Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sabo groans as he opens his locker and a mountain of valentines come avalanching out.   

Ace chuckles from beside him.   

He sighs as he bends down to pick them up.   

Dumb high schoolers and their dumb crushes. He’s so over it.   

“Junior prom is coming up, taking anyone special?”  

Sabo snorts. “No.”  

“Awww, why not Sabo, you obviously have a ton of girls interested, possibly some boys too by the looks of that mountain of valentines.”  

Sabo sighs. “I really don’t care about dating Ace.”  

“Why?”  

Sabo shrugs. “I don’t know, guess I’d rather stick to school for now, besides not really sure what exactly I’m attracted to…”  

“Oh, I have an idea!”  

“No.” Sabo shuts his brother down before the idea finishes. “Not in a chance in hell am going along with one of your crazy ideas. I’m not your equally crazy twin.”  

Ace laughs. “Come on Sab, it might help you figure out if you like boys or girls, maybe neither.”  

Sabo rolls his eyes. “No.”  

“You’re no fun.”  

Another eye roll, then Sabo sighs as he stands. He shoves the things back into his locker, he’ll throw them out later, slams the door shut and heads to class.  

************************************************   

Sabo’s thoughts are interrupted by his bedroom door opening.   

He looks over and smiles at Koala as she enters the room. “Hey.”  

She smiles back. “Still up I see.” She just plops her bag down by the door.

Sabo hums and nods as he looks back at his computer screen. "Was looking at some listings. Since Ace was serious about moving out and Luffy’s been living with his boyfriend. We don’t need three bedrooms.”  

Koala chuckles. “Sabo, are you asking me to move in with you?”  

Sabo chuckles. “Might as well, you’re here enough. Besides, I’m better than your parents right.”  

Koala chuckles as she climbs into his bed. “Point taken.”  

“We’ve also been together a year now, that’s normal for moving in together, right?”  

She chuckles again. “Something like that.” He hears her groan. “It would be nice to not have to share a bathroom with three extra guys.”  

Sabo snorts. “Pigs the lot of them.”  

Koala chuckles. “You coming to bed?”  

Sabo hums. “Soon, promise.”  

His phone buzzes from his desk and he looks down at the screen.   

Still on for coffee tomorrow?  

Sabo frowns and just stares at the text for a heartbeat before sighing, picking up his phone and replying. Yeah, same place?  

They don’t take long to reply. Yes   

It’s definitely not a relationship he thought he’d pursue, but his actual family seems to all be having lives without him. Luffy has a baby on the way, Coby is due any day now, Ace is starting a family with Marco, and Annabelle is also starting a family of her own with Law and Zoro. That’s something he doesn't know if he’ll ever get over, his sister dating two guys at once. Then again, it’s better than his youngest brother being an addict. That he doesn’t know if he can ever forgive Luffy for. Him using put their dad in a horrible position, and he had to break a lot of his own rules to keep it from going public. The son of the Police Commissioner, going to jail for drugs. Yeah, the press would have had a field day. Maybe kids are too much of a hassle.   

“K?”  

“Hmmm?”  

He chuckles as he looks over at her. “Tired?”  

She hums again. “Waiting for my pillow.”  

Sabo smiles as he rolls his eyes. He goes ahead and closes his laptop and walks over to the bed and climbs in behind her. She rolls over and lays on his chest. She usually starts off this way, but she tosses and turns in her sleep, a lot.   

“Do you ever think about kids?”  

Koala sighs. “Maybe, not really.” She props up on her elbow and looks at him. “Why, have you?”  

Sabo shrugs. He runs his fingers up and down her arm. “I don’t know, all my siblings are having them.”  

Koala chuckles. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you have to, besides to have kids, we’d actually have to have sex.”  

Sabo rolls his eyes.   

She chuckles. “Babe, we’ve only been together a year, and besides, if you knock me up before meeting my dads and proposing, they will hunt you down and make you sleep with the fish, literally.”  

“Am I dating the daughter of a couple of mobsters?”  

Koala grins. “Maybe, but why would I admit that out loud and possibly incriminate them?”  

Sabo chuckles. “Okay, fair point.”  

She lays back down. “Now, sleep Mr. Knight.”  

Sabo rolls his eyes, but a smile appears on his face regardless. She’s been calling him that since the day they met. Koala wasn’t paying attention and about stepped into oncoming traffic. Sabo pulled her back to the curb. Koala immediately recognized who he was, her being in the press herself. She insisted on thanking him by buying him a drink. He accepted. Like he told Luffy, it was basically love at first sight. He looked into her big beautiful blue eyes, and he knew, he just knew he was never ever going to let her slip away, ever.   

Koala sighs. “You’re still thinking.”  

Sabo sighs next. “Sorry babe, just can’t seem to shut it off.”  

Koala chuckles. “Are you aware that when you think too much, you start mumbling?”  

Sabo feels hot all the sudden. “No? What exactly am I mumbling about?”  

She shrugs. “Whatever you’re thinking about, I think. Like, just now, you were monologuing about how we met.”  

Shit.  

Koala chuckles. “I think it’s cute.”  

Sabo rolls his eyes. “Thanks, I guess.” Wait. “I don’t do that at press conferences, do I?”  

She chuckles again. “No.”  

Whew. “Good.”  

“Mainly here or in your office. I think your subconscious knows to only do it when you’re alone, or with me. Maybe you only do it in front of the people you trust, like your family.”  

Sabo hums. “Maybe.”  

The following morning, he finds himself in a coffee shop as far away from lurking eyes as possible, specifically, his dad, and stepdad(?) Or whatever the hell Outlook is to him, besides a jerk and complete asshole.   

He orders two drinks and has a seat in the corner, again, as far away from prying eyes as possible. He doesn’t know why he’s so scared, embarrassed maybe?   

Sabo sighs and looks at his watch. Late, again. He doesn’t know why he’s surprised. She didn’t bother showing up for the last twenty-four years, why start being on time now.   

“Hey, hey, I’m here, sorry.” She takes a seat across from him.   

“It’s fine, I just can’t stay much longer.”  

She frowns. “We could always meet closer to town honey.”  

Sabo shakes his head. “I’m not ready.”  

“Son, if you’re worried about your dad…”  

“No.” Yes. “I don’t know, maybe.” Also, the fact that her current husband told him not to contact her anymore. “Look mom, I’m just not sure about this. You left me and broke dad’s heart.”  

She nods. “I know.”  

“So why now mom?”  

She sighs. “Well, after what you did for Stelly.”  

“You mean after you harassed me into it?”  

She glares at him. “Anyway, yes, I left, but I’m here now, and if you really didn’t want to be doing this why didn’t you say no?”  

Sabo frowns. “Honestly, I don’t know.”  

She hums.   

“After mom died, the thought of having a mom again, was... nice, I guess.”  

She smiles. “I’m sorry son. I’m glad you had someone to take care of you after I left.”  

Sabo hums and takes a sip of his rapidly cooling tea.  

“I probably can’t be the mom you expect, not like Rouge, but I am willing to listen, if you ever need anything son. Yes, we have separate families now, and yes, I made a mistake leaving you two back then, but like I said, I’m here now, and I want to get to know you.”  

Sabo sighs and stands. “I have to get to work mom.”  

She nods. “Same time next week?”  

Sabo frowns. “I don’t know, I’ll think about it.” He doesn’t wait for a reply, he just leaves. Grabs a cab and heads to work.  

Sabo is sitting at his desk going over the weekly reports when there’s a knock on his door. Sabo looks up to see Sentomaru entering.   

“Hey, what’s up?”  

“I know this took forever and I apologize, but the bastards covered their tracks really damn well. But here is my report for all the phones that were collected from the former mayor's staff. I believe y’all have plenty of evidence to put them away for a while and possibly take down the beast pirates too.”  

Sabo nods as he takes the stack of papers. “Thanks.”  

“Also, the phone that sent that threatening text to you the night your sister was hospitalized, it was among them.”  

Sabo nods again. “Know, who exactly it belonged to?"  

“The former Chief of Staff, Trebol.”  

Sabo sighs. “Okay, thanks.”  

“But wait there’s more.” He mocks.  

Sabo frowns. “What?”  

“Someone who’s only named at V. A cop that’s in their pocket by the way some of those messages read.”  

Sabo groans. “Okay, thanks.”  

“Not a problem, anything else I can do for you Mr. Press secretary?”  

Sabo grins.  

Sentomaru frowns. “Anything I can legally do for you?”  

Sabo chuckles. “No, that’s all for now. Thanks.”  

“Mmhmm. Oh, also, you and your siblings are mentioned in their conversations, like a lot. Fair warning. Former Mr. Mayor hated you.”  

Sabo nods, thanks.  

“Yep.” Sentomaru makes his leave.  

Sabo stands, locks his office then heads up to his dads’. He walks right past Abby and swings open the door. “Dad, I... oh, uncle, didn’t know you were here, sorry.”  

His dad and uncle chuckle.  

“Not a problem kid, I was just leaving.”  

“Actually.” Sabo shuts the door and walks over to sit next to the acting mayor. “You probably need to know this too.”  

“Oh?”  

He hands his uncle the stack of papers Sentomaru handed him a little bit ago. “Our technicians finally finished going through all those phones. Some of the conversations are kinda disturbing.”  

His uncle hums as he scans the pages. “While I appreciate you sharing kid, I’m no longer Chief Justice, Shanks is.”  

Sabo frowns. “Well, yeah, but you still have your license, don’t you?”  

“Sure, but as Mayor now, my role is completely different.”  

“Oh, I knew that.”  

His dad and uncle laugh.   

“Okay, but won’t you need this to vet your staff?”  

His uncle smiles. “Good point, make me a copy yeah?”  

Sabo nods.   

His uncle stands. “Well, let me know if there’s anything else boss.”  

Sabo’s dad rolls his eyes. “If anything, you’re the boss.”  

His uncle chuckles. “Yeah, I am, aren't I?”  

“You’re gonna let that go to your head ain't ya?”  

His uncle nods. “That I am.” Then he leaves.  

His dad rolls his eyes again.   

Sabo chuckles.   

“Sentomaru say anything else?”  

Sabo sighs. “I think you better just look them over yourself. Who’s prosecuting the case?”  

His smirks at him. “Hina Cage.”  

Sabo groans.  

His dad chuckles. “What’s wrong, don’t agree?”  

Sabo shakes his head. “No, she’s a great attorney, she just well, she...”  

His dad chuckles again. “Sometimes talks about herself in the third person?”  

“Yes! Like, who does that, and in the middle of court.”  

His dad shrugs. “She gets the job done, that’s all I care about.”  

Sabo sighs. That’s fair, she is really good. “So, Hina's prosecuting and Shanks’s is preceding?”  

His dad nods. “Yeah." Hi dad stands and heads to his desk. "Anything else son?"

Sabo shakes his head. "No, was hoping I can head home for the day." Though the apartment has just been him and Koala and she texted him to let him know she wasn't coming over today. Something to do with her dads.

His dad nods. "That's fine."

Sabo walks into his apartment, yeah, his and only his. Luffy moved out, Ace and Marco are buying a house together, so it's just him now. Him and Koala whenever she stays over. Maybe he needs a pet. Ace and Ann have dogs, maybe he can look into that. Though, as much as he loves Chewy, he wasn't really Sabo's thing, so maybe a cat, or a goldfish. Something low maintenance, then again, a goldfish ain't exactly able to give cuddles. He hates that things are changing, again. He just wants to go back to a time where things were normal, then again, his family isn't exactly normal. They're a blended family, with way too much drama. Their sister was attacked last year and now has two boyfriends and twins. Ace is moving in with his boyfriend of six years and they're apparently adopting two kids, Luffy is a convict with a baby on the way with his cop boyfriend. As selfish as it is, Sabo sometimes thinks about how things would be if his dad never met or married their mom. It would just be the two of them, and no drama. Then he remembers that even though Rouge wasn't his biological mom, she was his mom. He loved her and she loved him. He wouldn't have had anyone to get into mischief with, a brother to talk to, a sister to protect. When she needed it. That punch to Ain proved that Ann could take care of herself, she still can, doesn't mean he won't still try. Luffy, well, Luffy causes trouble left and right, but he's still Sabo's brother. He's still not sure if he can ever forgive Luffy for putting their dad in such a bad position, but he's still his brother, he's just going to keep his distance for a while. At least until Luffy has proven himself. 

His phone ringing brings him out of his downward spiral of thoughts. 

Koala

Sabo smiles as he answers and puts on speaker. "Hey babe, what's up?"

Koala sighs. "My dads are insisting that it's time to meet you."

Sabo pales. "Oh yeah?"

Another annoyed sigh from his girlfriend. "Yeah, so whatever your plans are Friday, they insist you cancel and join them for dinner."

Sabo chuckles. "Okay, consider them canceled."

"You sure, I could always fake your death?"

Sabo snorts. "As much as I appreciate that, I'm sure."

"Okay, but don't blame when when you end up with a new pair on concrete shoes."

Sabo rolls his eyes, but smiles anyway. "Are you sure I'm not dating the daughter of a mobster?"

Koala chuckles. "Loose lips sink ships."

Sabo chuckles. "That's the Navy babe."

"Whatever, same thing." Not really, but okay.

Sabo chuckles. "Okay, Friday, just text me the details."

"I will."

"Night babe."

"Night Mr. Knight."

Sabo smiles as he hangs up. Then he frowns when he realized just what in the hell he agreed to. He's meeting Koalas parents for the first time. They've been together a year now, and he has yet to meet them. He knows who they are, sorta, he may have done a little bit of research, but Koalas been putting this meeting off for a while and he's kinda thankful, she makes them sound dangerous, which, they just might be. Sabo is dating their only daughter, their only child actually. 

Yeah, Sabo just might be the headlines in the next paper.

DCPI's body found by divers. Possible mob involvement.

Sabo shivers. He's a dead man. 

Chapter Text

Sabo was at the table with his siblings, all of them working on homework. His dad was washing dishes from dinner when his mom came into the kitchen. 

“Dragon honey.”  She says as she approaches him.

“Yeah?” He doesn't look up from his dishes. 

“I need you to look over these for me.” 

His dad shuts off the water and dries his hands before taking the files. He frowns. “I thought we agreed that you were taking some time off of work.” 

“No.” His mom says. “You and my doctors agreed, I didn’t.” 

“Love.” His dad tries. 

“No, I don’t want to hear it. This is my diagnosis, my body, my choice. I get to decide how and when I quit, end of story.” Their mom stomps off.  

Their dad sighs. All of them are staring at him. 

 He must feel their eyes on him because he looks up and glares at them. “Back to work, mind your own business.” He stomps off to his office.  

They all obey. He silently wonders what diagnosis she's talking about and well, he can tell  that whatever it is she’s not taking it too well. Neither is their dad.  

After his homework he goes upstairs and finds his mom sitting up in bed, papers spread around her. 

“Mom?” 

She looks up at him and smiles. “Hey, heading to bed?” 

He nods. “Can I ask you something?” 

She nods and clears a space for him to join her on the bed. It’s rare that they’re allowed in their parents' room, but she probably can tell something is bothering him. 

“What’s the matter baby?” 

“How did you know that you liked dad?” 

She chuckled. “Well, I didn't at first, he bugged the hell out of me, because he was just trying to arrest my boyfriend at the time.” 

Sabo frowns. “Oh.” 

“But, once I got to know him, I realized how sweet and caring he was.” 

Sabo sighs. 

“Sabo, baby, what’s wrong?” 

Sabo shrugs. “I just don’t know about dating, what’s the point?’ 

His mom chuckles. “Honey, you’re fifteen, there’s plenty of time for love. You don’t have to be in a hurry.” 

"You sure?"

His mom chuckles. "Positive."

"Sabo, bedtime kid."

Sabo looks up at his dad and nods. "Yes sir." He gives his mom a hug and heads to bed.

********************************************  

Sabo groans as he removes his tie for the dozenth time. Nothing feels right. Then again, he’s most likely about to die, so... maybe funeral black will be appropriate.

He groans as he throws the tie on the bed with the rest, picks up his phone and dials his dad.  

“Yeah?” 

“You at the office still?” 

“Son, it’s almost eight.” 

Sabo quirks a brow. “Your point?” 

His dad sighs. “Yeah, okay, I’m here, why?” 

“I’m having trouble with my tie, nothing feels right.” 

His dad chuckles. “Nervous?” 

“That obvious?” 

His dad chuckles again. “Son, you’re about to meet your girlfriends' parents for the first time, that can make anyone nervous. Let’s just hope your experience is better than mine.” 

Sabo frowns as he takes a seat on his bed. “What do you mean?” 

His dad sighs. “Well, Didi’s parents never liked the fact that I was planning on supporting her with an Enlisted paycheck and well, Rouge’s dad shot me the first time we met.” 

Sabo’s eyes widen. “Shot you?” 

His dad chuckles. “Yeah, right in the ass.” 

“Dad, that’s not funny.” 

“Oh, but I’m sure that won’t happen to you son.” 

“How can you be so sure?” 

His dad sighs. “Look son, I know it’s cliché, but just be yourself, I’m sure they’ll love you. Koala does. I’m sure that you have nothing to worry about. You’re a bright, wonderful kid.” 

“Dad, I’m twenty-five.” 

His dad chuckles. “Yeah, doesn’t change the fact that to me you’re a kid, my kid. So, just be yourself son, it’ll be fine promise.” 

Sabo sighs. “Okay.” 

“Still want help with that tie?” 

Sabo looks down at the many, many, many ties on his bed and sighs again. “Please?” 

His dad chuckles. “Okay, I’m on the way.” 

After his dad helped him with his tie, he was still too nervous to drive, so he went ahead and ordered a ride to the restaurant. 

Sabo thanks his driver and takes a deep breath before heading into the restaurant. 

“Sabo?” Kinley says. “Annie isn’t working tonight.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Actually, I’m meeting my girlfriend and her parents here.” 

“Ohhhh.” She chuckles. “They’re in the private room.” 

Sabo frowns but nods. “Thanks.” 

“Good luck.” 

“Yeah. Hey, if it looks like I’m about to die, pull the fire alarm.” 

Kinley laughs. “I know you’re joking, but they looked scary as hell.” 

Sabo pales. “Really?” 

Kinley grins, winks and just laughs some more.  

Sabo groans, takes another breath and heads to the private room. He spots Zoro behind the bar. “Zoro!” 

Zoro looks up at him and frowns. “Annabelle isn’t here.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “I’m aware. Look, I’m about to meet Koala’s parents for the first time.” 

Zoro snorts. “One strong drink coming up.” 

“Thank you.” 

Zoro chuckles. “You got it.” 

“I have to get in there, bring it to me?” 

Zoro nods. “Sure.” 

Sabo walks back there and tries to subtly peek in the room before actually walking in. Damn it they’re huge, and Kinley was right, they look scary as hell.  

He’s so dead.  

Sabo pulls out his phone and calls his dad.  

“How’s it going?” 

Sabo frowns. “I haven’t walked in yet dad, I need you to psych me up.” 

His dad laughs. 

“Dad, this isn’t funny.” 

His dad just continues to laugh. 

Sabo groans.  

Unfortunately, Koala spots him and smiles at him through the door. Then suddenly Sabo has two sets of very scary eyes on him.  

“Shit.” 

“What?” 

“I’ve been made.” 

His dad chuckles. “Son, you’ll be fine. Go, I’m sure they’re very nice people, they raised Koala after all.” 

Sabo sighs. “Can’t you like, fake an emergency or something?” 

His dad snorts. 

Koala frowns, like she knows something is wrong. He smiles and gives her the one-minute finger.  

“No, go.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “I’m going.”  

“Good, bye.” His dad hangs up.  

Sabo pockets his phone and takes another breath before entering the room. “Hey, sorry, work never ends.” 

Koala smirks at him knowingly and he swallows. He walks around and takes a seat next to Koala, those dangerous eyes following him the whole way.  

“That’s alright, but I’m sure your dad can handle things without you for tonight, right?” 

Sabo nods. “Of course.” 

“So, you work for your dad?” The biggest of the two asks. 

Koala chuckles. “Dad, you remember, I told you. Sabo is the DCPI.” 

“Oh, yes, and your dad is the Commissioner.” 

Sabo nods. “That’s the one.” 

Koala chuckles. “Sabo, this is my dad, Fisher.” 

Sabo shakes his hand. 

“And my Papa, Arlong.” 

Sabo shakes his hand next. 

“Nice to finally meet you both.” 

Both hum and nod.  

There’s a knock on the door before Zoro enters and walks him over his drink. “One Zombie.” 

Sabo has no idea what in the hell a Zombie is but he’s gonna drink it anyway. “Thanks.” Can’t be worse than anything his sister has concocted. 

Zoro nods. “Not a problem, can I get anybody, anything else?” 

“Uh, I think we’re ready to order.” Fisher says. 

Zoro nods. “I’ll get your server.” 

“Another beer would be nice.” Arlong says.  

Another nod from Zoro. “Sure.” 

“Was his hair color a dare?” 

Sabo snorts. “No, he’s just obsessed with the color.” 

“Oh, you know him?” Fisher asks. 

Sabo nods as he takes a sip of his Zombie. Damn that’s strong. “My sister's boyfriend.” 

“Ah.” Both men say at the same time.  

“So, Sabo.” Arlong starts. “How did the two of you meet?” 

Sabo frowns and looks at Koala. “You mean, they don’t know?” 

Koala chuckles guilty. “No, cause if I told them, I would have gotten a lecture.” 

Both men quirk a brow. “K?” 

Koala sighs. “We, um, well....” 

Sabo chuckles. “She almost walked out into traffic. I quickly pulled her back.” 

“Oh, and what exactly had you distracted K?” 

Koala frowns. “Work.” 

“Uh huh.” Fisher says. “We’ll talk about this later.” He says, like she’s ten and not twenty-three. 

“Yes sir.” 

Damn, she wasn’t kidding when she said they still treat her as if she’s a child. 

“So, a sister, any other siblings?” 

Sabo nods. “Two brothers.” 

“And what about your mom, or uh, second parent?” 

Sabo frowns. “Um, my mom passed away last year actually.” 

“Don’t you remember babe. Koala spent a few days with Sabo and his family while they were saying goodbye.” 

Fisher nods. “Oh yes. Sorry to hear that.” 

Sabo is saved by their server coming in to take their orders.  

Food ordered the interrogation continues. 

“So, Sabo, does your dad have a plan for the gangs that have been harassing pier workers that have been trying to take our business?” 

Sabo frowns. “I really can’t say anything about that until we make an official statement.” 

Both men frown.  

“You’re more than willing to make an appointment with him if there are specific concerns on the subject.” 

“Of course.” 

“Can we leave work out of conversation tonight?” Koala asks. 

They smile. “Sure kid.” 

“I was surprised y’all picked the Baratie, y’all come here often?” 

Both men chuckle. “Not necessarily, our fishing company supplies here.” 

“Oh, that’s cool.” 

“What about you?” 

Sabo shrugs. “My sister works here, and we’ve known Sanji for years, so we like to support him.” 

Both hum and nod again.  

“So, was your sister the girl that was injured in that robbery last year?” 

Sabo frowns. “Uh, yeah.” A robbery is what they told the public seeing as well, Orochi did in fact take the money Annie was counting and they weren’t trying to scare the public with it. Then they found his body a few days later so that was good news for a lot of the women in town. The sleeze deserved what he got, not that Sabo can condone death. Plus, the man that killed him also threatened his sister and their family, so there’s that. 

Conversation carried on. Their food eventually came and Zoro kept the drinks coming.  

“Well, it’s getting late.” Fisher says. “We should get going.” He and his husband stand. “We’ll give you a few minutes.” They leave Sabo and Koala alone for a second.  

“I’m not gonna be able to get you to come home with me tonight, am I?” 

Koala chuckles. “Probably not. I’ll call you later?” 

Sabo chuckles. “Why does it feel like we’re back in high school and not adults?” 

She smiles. “That’s just my dads, don’t worry, I think they loved you.” 

Sabo smiles. “I’m glad.” He leans in for a kiss, but before their lips connect someone clears their throat.  

Sabo groans and backs away.  

Koala chuckles. “I got to go.” She kisses him on the cheek. “Good night Mr. Knight.” She whispers before standing, grabbing her purse and leaving with her dads.  

Sabo sighs.  

“So, you’re alive.” 

Sabo snorts. “For now.” 

Zoro chuckles. “Need another drink?” 

Sabo nods.  

“Come have it at the bar so they can start clearing the table.” 

Sabo stands and then realizes something. “Wait, Zoro, did they just leave me with the bill?” 

Zoro laughs.  

Damn it! 

Koala was sitting up in bed reading when she hears her parents’ door open. She looked up to see her Papa exiting. She frowns. He’s usually a light sleeper so whenever he can’t sleep, he goes for a walk to try and tire himself out.  

She goes back to her reading. Koala honestly hates still living with them but it’s not like she can afford otherwise, and she knows they like having her around.  She has no idea if her moving in with Sabo is such a good idea. She wants too, but they’re probably not going to be on board with the idea unless Sabo proposes, and he can’t do that without their permission. She had called him earlier and had to apologize when he told her they accidently left him with the bill. He assured her that it was his pleasure and not to worry about it. She smiles thinking about him. Sabo really is a great guy. He's sweet and caring, and he really loves his family. She can't wait to be a part of it. 

Suddenly she hears voices.  

Koala frowns and sets her book aside before getting out of bed.  

In the hallway she peeks into her parents’ room. Her dad is passed out. He’s the heavier sleeper of the two, so hardly anything wakes him. The voices sound like they’re starting to argue so she continues down the hall and stops at the top of the stairs. She recognizes one, her Papa, but the other she has no clue as to who it could be. Koala begins to tiptoe down the stairs; she pauses at the bottom where’s she's hidden from view but can still hear.  

“You were seen getting cozy with the fucking DCPI yesterday.” The unknown voice says. 

Sabo? Why would this person care if her dads are having dinner with Sabo? 

Her Papa growls. “Him being the DCPI had nothing to do with why I was having dinner with him.” 

The guy scoffs. “Well, whatever the reason, it’s sparked some concerns with the higher ups.” 

“You don’t understand, he’s my daughter's boyfriend.” 

“I don’t give a shit Arlong, he’s a fucking liability, and you need to cut ties with him now, or we break our end of the deal.” 

Koala frowns.  

“Can’t we I don’t know, keep him close, use him for information?” 

What the hell is happening right now? 

“Go on?” 

Ever the curious one Koala continues down the last two steps and rounds the corner, plus she really didn’t want to hear what her Papa had in mind. She rubs her eyes to pretend like she was asleep. 

“Papa?” 

Both men look at her shocked. 

“Hey kid, what you doing up?” 

She walks over and wraps her arms around him. “I heard voices.” 

He hums. “This is.... our new security guard.” 

The guy smiles. She doesn’t like him. 

“He was just making sure we were okay.” 

The guy nods. “Oh yeah, totally, thought I heard something.” 

“Oh, well I dropped my book earlier.” That was a lie.  A test.

The guy nods. “That must be it.” He failed. The guy points behind him. “I’ll uh, just be on my way then.” He is definitely no damned security guard.  

“Who was he for real Papa?” She asks once the stranger is gone. 

He sighs. “You should get back to bed kid, get some rest.”  

"There you two are."

They both look at her dad as he enters the kitchen.

"What are you two doing up?"

"Couldn't sleep." They say in unison.

Her dad chuckles at their synched response. "Well, you should at least try."

Her papa kisses the top of her head. "Get to bed kid."

She sighs. "Okay." She lets go of him and then gives her dad a hug before heading towards the stairs. 

"And don't think we forgot about the talk we need to have about you being distracted enough to walk into oncoming traffic." 

She frowns and nods. She takes a couple more steps up the stairs.

"Now you." Her dad says. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing babe."

"Arlong, we've been together way too long for me not to be able to tell when somethings wrong."

Her papa sighs. "I don't think we should let her see him anymore."

Koala frowns.

Her dad sighs. "Okay, but why? He seems like a nice enough boy."

"I don't know Fish okay, I just have this feeling about him. I can't explain it." Thought you wanted to use him for information? She mocks in her head. 

Koala decides she's done with this conversation and just continues back upstairs to her room like she was told. She enters her room and climbs into bed. Ignoring the tears prickling at her eyes. She's twenty-three so why is she letting them control her life so much? Yes, she still lives with them, but that doesn't mean she should be treated like a child, right? Plus something is definitely going on with her Pap and the stranger from earlier. Something to do with Sabo. She may have been teasing about the concrete shoes, but now she's thinking that maybe she was right. 

Chapter Text

Sabo can’t believe he listened to his brother and is currently in a bar of all places. Ace left him to go, who knows what with some blonde that showed up and started grinding all over Ace. Sabo said it was fine, but in reality, he just wants to go home.  

He waited for Ace to come back, but he never did, so Sabo leaves and no matter the consequences, decided to call his dad.  

“Sabo? Son, it’s the middle of the night.” 

“I’m sorry dad, I know you’re out of town, but….” But what, he could have called his mom, but his instinct was to call his dad.  

“Son, what’s wrong?” 

Well, here possibly goes his freedom for all of Senior year. “Ace and I snuck out to go to a club.” 

His dad growls. “You what?” 

“I’m sorry dad, but Ace left and now I’m here by myself and I just want to go home.” He cries.  

His dad sighs. “Okay, are you able to get to the police station?” 

Sabo nods. “I think so.” 

“Okay, go there and give them my badge number. I’ll have Shanks pick you up, okay?” 

Sabo nods. “Okay, dad I'm sorry.” 

His dad sighs again. “Just get home and we’ll talk about this after I know you two are safe.” 

Sabo nods. “Okay.” 

***********************************************  

Something was wrong with his girlfriend. They decided to meet for breakfast, but she’s barely touched her food. She’s just playing with it. She’s barely said a word to him. She’s barely looked at him.  

“K?” 

She doesn’t even acknowledge him.  

“Babe?” 

Nothing.  

Sabo frowns. “Koala?” He reaches over and places a gentle hand on her forearm.  

Koala jumps and looks at him. 

He gives her a soft smile. “You okay?” 

She sighs. “Yeah, sorry. It’s nothing.” 

“Are you sure?” 

She nods, but still doesn’t smile. “What, um, what were you saying?" 

Sabo frowns. “I narrowed down a couple places, want to go look at them with me this weekend?” 

Koala sighs, gives him a soft smile. “Sure.” 

“You sure? We don’t have to move in together if you’re not ready?” 

“No, no, I want to. I’m sorry, I’m just thinking about my dads.” 

“Thay hate me, don’t they?” 

“No, they loved you, I just, I don’t know.” 

“Koala, I’m in no hurry. We can take this relationship as slow as you want.” 

She nods.  

Sabo sighs. What the hell else is he supposed to say? Her mind is obviously somewhere else.  

Her phone dings from the table and she looks at it and frowns, even further than she already was. She sets her fork down and grabs her phone. “I got to go.” She stands and leans down to kiss his cheek.  

Sabo nods. “Want to take that to go?” 

She shakes her head. “I’ll get a frappe on the way.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “I meant the food babe.” 

“I know.” She grabs her purse and kisses his cheek again before heading to her car.  

Sabo sighs. Yeah, something is definitely wrong. He grabs the check, pays for the food, and heads into work himself. 

Because Koala was distracted at breakfast, Sabo is now distracted at work. Misread emails, replied to the wrong fucking people, missed a meeting and all around losing his fucking mind. So, he decided to finish the day locked in his office, away from people, and responsibilities.  

That is until his dad used his key to let himself in.  

“I’m fine.” 

His dad scoffs as he takes a seat across from Sabo. “Try again.” 

“I don’t think Koala’s parents like me.” 

“I thought you said the dinner went well?” 

Sabo nods. “I thought it did, but this morning at breakfast she may have hinted that it didn’t.” 

“Oh? How so?” 

Sabo sighs as he finally leans back in his chair in order to look at his dad. “We were planning on moving in together.” 

His dad nods.  

“But this morning it seemed like she changed her mind.” 

“And you think it has something to do with her parents making that decision for her?” 

“What else could it be? Before the dinner she was all for it, and today she barely even looked me. What if she breaks up with me?” 

His dad frowns. “Then, that’s her right as an adult son.” 

Sabo frowns. “She’s it dad, I don’t want anyone else.” 

His dad sighs. “You know, Koala might have something in common with your uncle Shanks.” 

Another frown. “How so?” 

“For years Shanks let his parents’ opinions control him, that’s why he was single until his mid-forties. He was always afraid of what they thought, even years after they died. Koala might hold her parents' opinions very high.” 

Sabo frowns.  

“Koala is also an only child, therefore, they might just be trying to hold onto her as long as possible. There’s also the fact that dads tend to want to keep their daughters safe, so they’ll find any excuse to not like a boy, or whomever they’re dating.” 

Sabo snorts. “Speaking from experience?” 

His dad rolls his eyes. “Unfortunately.” 

Sabo chuckles. Like he’s mentioned before, his sister dating two men is something he may not ever get used too, but he’s sure his dad has it way worse. 

“Maybe talk to Shanks, he may be able to shed some light on the situation, and also, talk to Koala. Don’t assume things son, she may just have a lot on her mind. She's a journalist, she might just have a hard story she’s working on.” 

Sabo nods. “Okay, thanks dad.” 

“Always kid.” 

Sabo called ahead to make sure that his uncle was home and that it was okay to stop by. No sense in driving fifty miutes for no reason.  

Sabo walks up to his uncles’ unnecessarily large door and like his uncle Shanks, doesn’t bother knocking. He just walks right in. “Uncle Shanks?” 

“Coming!” He yells from somewhere upstairs. 

Sabo hears a little bark, and he looks over at the stairs to see Princess coming down, then she runs to him and continues to bark.  

Sabo rolls his eyes. The little shit doesn’t like anyone but Shanks, but she doesn’t dare come close enough to actually do anything about it. 

“Hey kid.”  

Sabo looks up at his uncle as he steps off the last step. 

“Princess, stop.” Shanks orders. 

She listens and skips off somewhere. Most likely to their bedroom.  

“So, what’s up?” 

“I kind of have a personal situation and dad said that you might be able to help.” 

“Oh, well, I was just about to get dinner started, want to talk in the kitchen?” 

Sabo nods. “Sure.” He follows his uncle to the kitchen. He takes a seat at the island on a barstool while his uncle begins to cook.  

“What seems to be the problem kid?” 

Sabo sighs. “How did you move past your parents' prejudice?” 

Shanks chuckles. “Your uncle and dad mostly. I was way too scared of my dad to go after what I wanted, but your dad kept pushing and eventually I met Drac.” 

Sabo hums.  

“Why?” 

“I asked my girlfriend to move in with me.” 

Shanks chuckles. “I’m guessing it didn’t go so well?” 

Sabo shrugs. “It went fine, until I met her dads, and now it seems like she’s going to change her mind.” 

Shanks hums. “And you think her parents’ are affecting her decision?” 

Sabo nods. “Yeah, what else could it be?” 

“Did you talk to her about it?” 

“I tried, this morning, but she barely said a word to me, just played with her food the whole time.” 

Shanks hums again. “Well, I would try again kid. Assuming things about people could be dangerous.”  

Okay fair, been there done that, well Ace mostly. “Like when Ace thought you were dating our VP?” 

Shanks chuckles. “Yeah, like that. That rumor almost got us fired, though I know Ace wasn’t the one to start it.” 

Sabo nods. “But you got fired anyway.” 

“I got let go, there’s a difference. But according to official records, I retired.” 

Sabo frowns. “I still think that was unfair of them to do that to you.” 

Shanks shrugs. “Maybe, but a young girl did die at my school, so they had to do what they felt was necessary and right. Besides, if that never happened, I may never have connected with your uncle.” 

Sabo sighs. “I guess.” 

Shanks chuckles. “Don’t look so sad on my account kid, I was gonna retire after Luffy graduated anyway, and besides I’m happy. I got an amazing fiancé and two kids, I’m fine.” 

Sabo shrugs. “Sure.” 

His uncle chuckles again. “Just try talking to her again, don’t assume anything. It could cause real problems.” 

Sabo nods. He hears the front door open, and Princess starts barking again.  

“It’s just me you dumb dog.” He hears his uncle say. Princess immediately stops barking. 

Shanks roll his eyes.  

Sabo chuckles. “Has she always been like that?” 

Shanks nods. “Since the day I took her in.” 

Sabo hums.  

“Though, sometimes she tolerates it.” 

Sabo chuckles.  

“Mm, I thought I smelt something delicious.” His uncle comes over and gives him a side hug. “Hey kid.” He then walks around the island to give Shanks a kiss. “Hey babe.” 

"Hey, have a good day?” 

His uncle shrugs. “Not to speak ill of my friend in front of his kid, but I have no idea how in the hell Dragon talked me into this.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Dad is very persuasive.” 

They both groan. 

“We’re very aware.” Shanks says.  

Sabo chuckles again. 

“So, Sabo, to what do we owe the pleasure of this visit?” 

“Girlfriend trouble.” 

His uncle chuckles. “Ah, what kind?” 

Sabo sighs.  

“Controlling parents.” Shanks provides the information for Sabo. 

“Ah, so you think Shanks can help since he’s been in a similar situation.” 

Sabo nods.  

Suddenly two cats are jumping on the counter meowing at his uncle, who rolls his eyes in response.  

Sabo chuckles.  

“Zoro and Perona needs to come get these damn cats.” His uncle proceeds to put food in the cat's bowls, and they happily jump down and proceed to eat. 

Shanks chuckles.  

“Wait, Perona moved out?” 

“Not officially no.” He puts the food back into the cupboard. “But as soon as she gets home from Paris, I think she plans on moving in with her boyfriend.” 

Sabo frowns. “Oh.” He had no idea Perona was even seeing someone. 

“So.” Shanks starts. “You staying for dinner?” 

Sabo shrugs. “Sure, if that’s alright.” 

They both nod. 

It’s late by time he walks through his apartment door. He startles when he hears noises coming from the general direction of the bedroom.  

“Ace?” 

“Yeah?” 

Sabo sighs. He walks back to Ace and Marco's room. Ace is packing a couple boxes. Spade, Ace’s service dog is lying on the floor in front of the bed.  

“Just grabbing some things?” 

Ace nods.  

“So, you’re still moving out?” 

Another nod. 

“Does that mean you two are doing better?” 

Ace sighs. “No, but I have no choice. I can’t be alone with the baby.” 

Sabo hums. “Are you going to try and work it out?” 

Ace shrugs. “Do I want to? Yes, but it’s really hard for me to get over the fact that Marco hid the fact that Luffy was doing drugs for three fucking years.” 

Sabo sighs. “I know.” 

“I sorta get why you didn’t tell me, but Marco? I don’t give a shit about his stupid doctor rules, Luffy is my brother, and I had a right to know.” 

Not really, but Sabo’s not adding fuel to the flame that is a very pissed off Ace.  

“Plus, if we ever get married, and that’s a big if since he fucking refuses to propose, we shouldn’t be keeping secrets from each other.” 

Sabo hums again.  

“Also, we sold our furniture since we just bought everything new for the house. Someone is supposed to be coming Saturday to pick everything up.” 

Sabo nods. “Okay.” 

“And I'm sorry again for leaving you with the rent.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Ace, it’s an extra five hundred a month, no big deal.” 

Ace nods.  

“Plus, I’m actually looking into a new place.” 

Another nod from his brother. “That’s cool, house or apartment?” 

“Apartment.” 

Ace hums. “Was gonna say, there’s another house for sale across the street from ours.” 

Sabo frowns. “I don’t know, a house is a bigger responsibility.” 

Ace snorts. “You make six figures, I’m sure it’ll be fine.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “It’s not just the money Ace, what the hell am I buying a house for? I’m not married or even engaged. I don’t need a house.” 

Ace shrugs. “Just figured it would be nice to be close again.” 

Sabo sighs. “Sure, did you also offer the house to Luffy?” 

Ace snorts. “Hell no, he’s not going anywhere near my kids.” 

“Ever?” 

Ace groans. “I don’t know Sabo, alright. Our brother is an addict, how can I be sure he’s not going to be high around my kids, or introduce them to the stuff? Luffy has a long road ahead of him, if he ever wants my forgiveness.” 

Sabo sighs. Unfortunately, he agrees. Luffy really messed up and Sabo also doesn’t think he can trust his brother any time soon.  

Ace closes up the boxes. “You wouldn’t happen to be willing to give me a ride home, would you?” 

Sabo sighs again. “Sure.” 

It’s even later when he’s once again walking back into his apartment. He looks around to make sure he’s actually alone this time. He doesn’t bother with work. He just showers, thrown on some boxers and a tank and climbs into bed to call his girlfriend. 

“Can I help you?” Her dad answers. Or maybe it’s her papa? Honestly, it’s hard to tell over the phone, plus he only met them once. 

“Um, is Koala there?” Why in the hell does he feel like he’s sixteen again? 

“No.” 

Sabo frowns. “Oh, uh, okay, can she call me when she gets home?” 

“Maybe.” 

“Okay.” 

“Do you even realize what time it is?” 

“Yes, I just got home.” 

“Uh huh. Look kid, I like you, but calling at one o clock in the morning, really is uncalled for, for anybody.” 

Another frown. “I’m sorry?” 

“I'll let her know you called, but we’re busy tomorrow, so maybe she can call Saturday.” 

“Sure.” 

Her dad hangs up without another word. 

Sabo groans. What the hell is his life right now? He really misses his mom right about now. 

Chapter Text

A young Koala sat at the table, happily eating the waffles that her papa made her. “Daddy?” She grabs her dad's attention after she swallows her last bite. 

“Yes sweetie?” He responds but doesn’t look away from his newspaper. 

“When can I have a boyfriend?” 

Both her dads pause in their actions, and they slowly look at her. 

“When you’re thirty.” Her dad eventually answers. 

Koala groans. “Awww, but I’ll be so old by then.” 

“Hey, I’m thirty thank you.” 

“Yeah.” Koala deadpans. “Old.” 

“Hey!” 

Koala and her papa laugh. 

*************************************  

Koala takes a deep breath before she steps off the elevator, not really sure how this is going to go, but she’s imagining the worst possible outcome. She doesn’t want to believe that her papa is doing anything, less than legal, but that conversation she overhead has her pondering just what in the hell he got himself into. Why would the stranger care that her papa was seen having dinner with the DCPI? The only conclusion that Koala can come up with is that her papa is into something that could get him in trouble, possibly send him to jail. 

She checks in with the person at the desk and wait to be let into her appointment. 

“You can go ahead in sweetheart.” 

Koala smiles at her and nods. “Thanks.” She stands and walks into the office.  

“Well, isn’t this a surprise.” 

Koala smiles at her hopefully future father-in-law. “I um, wanted to talk to you in a professional setting.” 

“Without Sabo I’m guessing?” 

Koala nods.  

“Ah.” He leans back in his chair. “Well then, what can I do for you?” 

She sighs. “Can I ask, did Luffy ever.” She frowns. “Does Luffy, well....” 

Dragon chuckles. “Go ahead and ask, you won’t offend me.” 

“Did he forgive you after locking him up?” 

Dragon chuckles. “Eventually, why?” 

Koala takes a breath again. “Hypothetically if I suspect that someone is up so something not so legal, but…” God this is going worse than she imagined. 

“You’re worried about ruining your relationship with said person if you’re wrong?” 

Koala nods. 

“Well, it can be hard to do the right thing when it comes to family, trust me.” 

Another nod. 

“Have you tried talking to them about it?” 

Koala frowns. “No, what if I’m wrong and they hate me for accusing them of something they didn’t do?” 

“But what if you’re right, and have to live with the fact that you knew and did nothing to stop it?” 

She sighs. “Okay, fair enough.” 

“I know it can be hard kid, but sometimes tough love is needed.” 

She nods again. “Okay, thanks.” 

He smiles. “Any time, and let me know if you need anything okay?” 

Koala smiles. “Actually.” She pulls out her sketch pad and flips it to the page she’s looking for. “You wouldn’t happen to know him, would you?” She hands over the sketch pad. 

Dragon looks the image over and frowns. That’s a yes.  

“Wow kid, you’re good.” 

Koala shrugs. “I sketch when I’m bored.” 

Dragon hums. He hands back the image. “Yeah, I know him, why? Who is he to you?” 

Koala shrugs again. “He was at our house the other day, papa said he was our new security guard.” 

Dragon sighs. “You should talk to your papa kid, before something happens to where I can’t help him.” 

Koala nods. 

“I could be wrong, and I rarely am, but...” 

There’s a knock on the door before it swings open. “Sorry to interrupt, your detail is ready as requested.” 

Dragon nods. “Thanks Abby.” He stands. “Just, talk to him, and for whatever reason you’re keeping this from Sabo, just be mindful that secrets in a relationship can be damaging to said relationship.” 

Koala smiles and nods again. “Thanks.” She also stands and follows the Commissioner all the way down to the lobby. Except he goes left, and she goes right to find her boyfriend's office. His door is open and he’s on the phone. He keeps frowning, probably not liking what the other person on the phone is saying. She’s pretty sure it’s a personal call since it’s his cell phone and not his desk phone so she knocks on the open door.  

Sabo looks up at her and smiles.  

Koala walks over to the chair in front of his desk and has a seat to allow him to finish up his call.  

“No, that’s fine, I appreciate it.” Sabo nods. “Yep, bye.” He puts his phone on the desk and looks up at her. Another smile gracing his face. “Hey, what’s up?” 

She smiles back. “Lunch?” 

Sabo chuckles. “It’s only ten.” 

Koala shrugs. “My meeting didn’t last as long as I thought, so I headed straight here.” 

“Ah. Okay, sure, let me just finish up this email.” 

She nods. “Sure. Is, um, everything okay?” 

Sabo shrugs. “Sure, why?” 

“That phone call had you frowning the whole time.” 

Sabo sighs. “Yeah, just still looking for a new place, since none of the ones we’ve looked at so far really caught our eye.” 

Koala nods. “Oh.” 

The room went quiet except for the noises of Sabo tapping the keys.  

Koala smiles at the way his face scrunches in thought and he lip synchs every word he types. It’s cute.  

Koala chuckles. 

Sabo looks up at her and smiles. “What?” 

She shrugs. “You’re cute.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes and gets back to his email. “So, are we, okay?” 

Koala frowns. “Yeah, why?” 

Sabo frowns. “Well, after the dinner with your parents you’ve been kinda distant.” 

Koala sighs. “Oh, that. It’s nothing just family drama.” 

“Everything okay?” 

Koala shrugs. “Don’t know yet.” 

Sabo smiles. “Well.” He locks his computer, stands, grabs his wallet and keys and rounds the desk. “How about we just concentrate on lunch for now?” 

Koala smiles and nods. Sabo reaches a hand towards her, and she takes it, and he helps her stand.  

“Let me just let my dad know I’m heading out for a bit.” 

“He’s not in his office.” 

Sabo stops and quirks a brow at her.  

Shit, he’s not supposed to know her meeting was with his dad. 

“How do you know?” 

Hell. 

“Oh, um, he was on his way out when I got here.” 

“Oh.” Sabo pulls out his phone and sends off a quick text, to his dad she assumes. They then head towards the exit. 

“My car?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “I can drive.” 

Koala looks at her boyfriend. “You sure?” 

Sabo smiles and nods. “Yeah, I’ve been getting better, so why not?” 

Koala smiles. “Look at you, all grown up.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes, and she chuckles.  

“So, how was your family outing?” Sabo asks as he opens the passenger door for her when they reach the vehicle. 

Koala smiles. “Good.” She gets in the SUV. 

Sabo nods then closes her door and walks around to the driver side.  

Wait. 

“How did you know I went out Saturday?” 

Sabo frowns as he starts the car. “You mean your dad didn’t tell you that I called?” 

“No, when did you call?” She pulls out her phone to look at her call history. 

“Friday night, well, technically Saturday morning, like one.” 

Koala cringes. “Yeah, I was asleep.” She spots the call to which he was referring, it didn’t last but a couple minutes, and that’s rare for them, they usually talk longer than a high school couple.  

Sabo chuckles.  

“I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t worry about it babe, I get it.” 

Koala frowns. “You do?” 

Sabo nods from the driver seat. “Yeah, only child, that happens to be a girl. Two dads, so double the overprotectiveness. They just don’t want to see you get hurt, or maybe they’re having a hard time letting go. I know my dad was that way with Annie, well, maybe he still is. I know, like myself, he’s still getting used to the fact that she’s seeing two men.” 

Koala chuckles.  

“Your dads love you and they just want to make sure you get the best.” When they reach a red light Sabo turns to her and grins. “I just have to make sure I’m the best.” 

Koala smiles. “You already are in my mind.” 

Sabo chuckles and he drives again. “It’s not you that I need to convince now, is it?” 

Koala sighs. “Fair point.” 

Sabo finally pulls into their favorite lunch spot and finds a parking spot. The gentleman that he is he opens the door for her. Both the car door and the restaurant door.  It’s not very busy so it doesn’t take them long to be seated at a table. 

“So, I had a question.” 

Koala smiles. “Okay, shoot.” 

“What would you think about a house, instead of an apartment?” 

Koala sighs. “I mean, it’s a bigger responsibility.” 

Sabo nods.  

“Why?” 

“Ace said there’s a couple other houses in their circle that just finished and are move in ready.” 

Koala hums. “I mean, we can check them out if you want.” 

She gets another nod from her boyfriend. 

“You miss living with them, don’t you?” 

Sabo smiles. “Yeah.” Then he frowns. “Well Ace mostly, I really don’t know how I feel about Luffy yet.” 

Koala frowns. “Well, he’s your brother, that has to count for something, right?” 

Sabo shrugs. “Maybe, but I really don’t want to talk about him right now.” 

Koala nods. “Right.” 

Back at the studio Koala sought out her friend and coworker to ask her for a favor. 

“Ahiru.” She says as she enters her office. 

Ahiru looks up at her and quirks a brow. “Why do you look like someone died?” 

Koala rolls her eyes. “No-one died, I just need a teensy favor.” 

Her friend rolls her eyes this time. “Regarding?” 

“I just want to be kept in the loop if any news stories come across your desk involving...” She frowns. “My dad's company.” 

Her friend quirks a brow. “Interesting, go on.” 

Koala sighs. “I don’t want to say too much, I just need to do a little sleuthing before I accuse my dads of something they’re not doing and then they hate me forever. Plus, could this stay between us, at least until I know for sure.” 

Her friend studies her for a second, unsure. Then she sighs. “Sure.” 

“Thank you.” She stands.  

“I just hope you’re wrong, for their sakes and yours.” 

Koala nods. “Me too.” 

When she finishes her work for the day, she decides that there is one more person that she needs to talk to.  

When she arrives she locates the person she’s here to see.  

“Coby.” She finds him at his desk. 

He looks up at her and smiles. “Hey." 

“I was surprised you told me to meet you here, aren’t you supposed to be on maternity leave?” Coby is due in about a month.

He chuckles. “Yes, yes I am, just filling some things out before I actually go on leave. Since this one.” Coby looks down as he rubs his belly. “Will need a lot of care once their here.” He looks up at her again. “So, what’s up?” 

“I need to ask you something in confidence.” 

Coby frowns. “Okay.” 

Koala once again pulls out the sketch and hands it over. “Know him?” 

Coby frowns. “Yes, question is, how do you?” 

Koala frowns. “I don’t really.” 

“Okayyy.” 

Koala sighs. “I think my dads may be involved in something, not so on the up and up.” 

Coby nods. “Yeah, I would say so if this dirtbag is hanging around.” 

“Oh God, it’s bad ain’t it?” 

Coby sighs. "Have you tried talking to them?"

Koala shakes her head. "No."

"You should probably do that then." Coby hands back the sketch.

She frowns. "That's what the Commissioner said."

Coby snorts. "Then that's probably what you should do, he got that position for a reason, so it stands to reason he knows what he's talking about. Dragon's been a cop for a long time, military before that. So he has plenty of experience to know what to do in certain situations."

Koala nods. "Sure."

When she finally arrives home the house is dark, except her daddy's office.

"Koala, that you hun?"

Koala nods even though she can't be seen. "Yes daddy."

He appears in the doorway of his office. "Everything okay? You're getting home kinda late."

She nods again. "Yeah, sorry, busy day."

It was his turn to nod. "Okay, did you eat dinner?"

She shakes her head. "No."

Her daddy frowns. "Well, there's some food on the stove I think, unless your pops put it away already." Her daddy chuckles. "You know how he is about his kitchen."

Koala smiles. "Yeah."

"What's the matter kid?"

She shakes her head again, then walks over to give her dad a hug. "Just, a long day."

"You sure that's all?"

"Yes daddy, I'm sure."

"Okay then, why don't you go ahead and eat something then get some rest, okay kid?"

She nods again. "Okay daddy."

He kisses the top of her head and lets her go.

Koala heads to the kitchen to eat as instructed. She has no clue what she's going to do. She's not a cop, but she wants to be completely sure before she does anything. Koala is seriously hoping that she's wrong about this, but every fiber in her being is telling her that whoever that guy is, and however he's connected to her dads is not good. What if she's wrong though? But what if she's right? She could be the reason her dads go away for a long, long time, maybe forever.

Koala groans and realizes she's no longer hungry. She cleans up her area and heads upstairs, stopping by to peek in her parents room. Her papa is awake, sitting up in bed reading.

He must sense she's there cause he looks up and smiles. "Hey kid, getting home kinda late."

Koala nods. "Long day."

He chuckles. "I know those." He sets his book aside and pats the spot next to him.

Koala walks over and climbs into their giant bed. She leans into his side and he wraps an arm around her. 

"You know we love you, right kid?"

Hell, he's about to tell her to break up with Sabo isn't he?

Koala frowns, but nods. "Of course papa."

"And you know that we just want what's best for you, right?"

Another nod.

"You're our only kid, and we already fought so hard to get you."

Again, she nods. "I remember, my birth mother almost changed her mind."

He sighs. "Yeah. All I'm trying to say is that it's just a bit hard for us to see you so grown up."

"And dating?"

He chuckles. "Yes, and dating, we like Sabo, it's just hard, so you're just going to have to be patient with us, okay baby?"

Koala smiles and looks up at her papa. "You mean it, you like him?"

He smiles. "Yes, your dad and I talked it over and we just want to see you happy."

She lunges and wraps her arms around his neck. "Thank you."

Her papa chuckles and reciprocates the hug. "You're welcome baby, however, if he hurts you."

Koala nods. "Concrete shoes."

He snorts. "Not exactly what I was gonna say, but that works."

She kisses her papa's cheek and squeals as she climbs out of the bed.

"Love you kid, goodnight."

She grins so bright. "Night papa." Koala runs to her room with a pep in her step. She needs to call her boyfriend. 

Chapter Text

Sabo felt bad for Ace as he packed his bags for their Spring Break trip that Ace was no longer going on.  

“Stop looking at me like that, I’m fine.” 

Sabo frowns. “Are you sure?” 

Ace sighs. “I got no choice Sab; dad gave an order whether I like it or not.” 

Fair. 

“Sabo, Annabelle!” He hears his dad yell from downstairs. “Come on, we got to go!” 

Sabo sighs.  

“Just go, I’ll be fine. I’ve got Luffy to keep me company.” 

Sabo nods. “Okay.” Sabo grabs his bags and heads downstairs with his sister. They load their bags into their dads suburban and hop in. 

It was a quiet ride to school for the most part. Thier dad had put on the service from Sunday that he missed because he had to work, and he and Annabelle were scrolling on their phones.  

When they pull up to the school and get their bags out their dad holds out his hands. “Phones.” 

Sabo frowns. 

“But why?” Annabelle questions. 

“Because you’re going on this trip for education purposes.” 

“But pictures, and friends, and what if you need to get ahold of us?” 

Their dad shrugs. “You both have cameras, you can talk to your friends face to face, and Shanks will have a phone if I need to get ahold of you.” 

They both groan as they hand over their devices. 

Their dad chuckles. “You’ll be fine, it’s one week.” He gives both of them a hug. “Shanks said he’ll drive you home when y’all get back. I love you two.” 

“Love you too dad.” He and Annie say in unison. 

He chuckles as he climbs back into his car and drives off.  

Sabo sighs and he and his sister head inside. 

*********************************************  

As hesitant as he was to start, Sabo is currently thankful that he’s in therapy. Between his driving anxiety, his kitchen sink full of family drama, relationship problems and his biologial mother wanting back in his life, it’s been helping a lot. He’s also thankful he doesn’t have to do it with a stranger, but someone who’s been a friend of the family for years since Luffy was hospitalized the first time. 

Sabo sighs.  

“So?” 

Sabo looks up at Robin. “Hmm?” 

She chuckles. “I asked, why do you think that your dad would be mad?” 

Sabo shrugs. “She left us, broke his heart. I know he says it’s my choice, but I’m still worried about how he feels. He lost mom, had to send Luffy to jail, just a lot going on. What if he’s hiding his feelings to keep from hurting mine?” 

“Well, she is your mom, you have a right to have a relationship with her if that’s what the two of you want, and I’m sure your dad knows that.” 

Sabo frowns. “I guess.” 

“Do you want a relationship with her?” 

He shrugs. “I haven’t quite figured out what I want from her. I just miss mom, and I guess I miss having a mother figure.” Sabo smiles. “She always gave the best hugs, the best advice, I just hate doing this without her.” 

Robin hums. “Well, I think you should talk to him about it.” 

Sabo groans. He knew she was gonna say that. 

Robin chuckles. “Come on, this is your dad we’re talking about, he is a very understanding person.” 

That’s fair. “I guess.” 

She chuckles again. “Well, we have five minutes left, what do you say we call it a day and we can get into the rest next time?” 

Sabo nods.  

“Talk to him Sabo.” 

He nods again.  

“I’ll know if you don’t.” She really is annoyingly smart sometimes. 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “Fine.” He stands.  

“How’s driving going?” 

Sabo shrugs. “Better, I actually drove here and I’m about to go look at a place with Koala.” 

Robin smiles. “That’s great.” 

Sabo pulls up to the studio and spots Koala waiting for him at the curb.  He pulls up to her and hops out to open the door for her. He gives her a kiss before she gets in. He walks back around and gets right back into the driver seat.  

“Have a good day?” 

“Yeah, just busy really.” 

Sabo nods and takes off towards their destination. He’s never been to Ace’s house yet, so he had to put the address into the built in GPS in his car. 

“One of the inters was out sick today so I, being the newest person on the team, had to do his job as well.” 

Sabo frowns. “Sorry babe.” 

“No biggie.” 

Sabo decides to just park on the curb. He once again opens Koalas door for her. They walk hand in hand to Ace and Marco’s front door and Sabo knocks. He knows they’re still moving in. 

“Coming!” He hears his brother call before the door swings open. He smiles at them. “Hey, this is unexpected.” 

Sabo shrugs. “We have an appointment with the relator, figured we’d stop by while we waited for her.” 

Ace nods. “Got it.” He steps aside. “Come on it, but it’s a mess with boxes and things.” 

“How much do y’all have, honestly?” 

Ace chuckles. “We had to go shopping, plus, they’ve been bringing things over from the compound for Tama.” 

“Ah.” 

“I’m thinking about creating a registry.” 

“But you’re not engaged.” 

Ace shrugs. “A housewarming registry. Plus, we need a lot of new stuff for the baby, we’re starting from scratch.” 

“Is he officially yours?” Koala asks. 

Ace sighs as he goes to the kitchen to unpack a box. “No. We have an appointment in a couple weeks, but Tama is supposed to come home this weekend, so we have to be unpacked by then.” 

“Does family services have to approve her too?” Koala asks.  

Ace shakes his head. “No, she’s Marco’s biological child so she’s not their case, but the kids do have to have separate rooms.” 

Sabo nods.  

“Feel free to look around, I think all the houses have pretty much the same lay outs depending on the number of room and floors.” 

“That’s alright, she’s on her way.” 

Ace nods and just continues to put mugs away. Sabo is aware Marco is as addicted to coffee as their dad is. 

Koala’s phone rings and she pulls it out of her purse and frowns at the screen. “I have to take this, excuse me.”  

Sabo nods and Koala walks back outside to answer her phone call. 

“So?” 

Sabo looks at his brother and quirks a brow. 

“When are you proposing?” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “When my life is no longer in danger from her dads.” 

Ace snorts.  

Sabo sighs. “I know she says that they approve or whatever, but I just have this feeling about them. I can’t put my finger on it.” 

“Did you maybe do a background?” 

Sabo frowns. “I’ve thought about it, but when I go to do it, I just feel like I’m betraying her trust, and I never go through with it.” 

Ace hums. “Talk to dad maybe? Has he met them?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “Not that I’m aware of.” 

“Well maybe set up a meet, you know dad and his instincts. He’s usually pretty spot on.” 

Sabo nods. “Yeah.” It was Sabo’s turn to get a phone call. He pulls it from his pocket and sees that it’s the realtor. “I got to go, she's here.” 

Ace nods. “Sure, stop by before you leave if you want.” 

Sabo nods. “Okay, thanks.” He too walks back outside. 

“I’m sorry daddy, I thought I told you.” 

Sabo frowns. He approaches her and places a gentle hand on the small of her back. They begin to walk towards the house they’re looking at. 

She frowns at him. “I got to go, I promise I’ll be home in a few hours.” 

Sabo sees their realtor pull up. 

“Yes daddy, promise.”  

Sabo hears him reply.  

“Love you too.” Koala then hangs up.  

“Everything okay?” 

She sighs. “Yeah, fine.” 

“You sure?” 

Koala nods. “Yeah, just a miscommunication.” 

“Okay.” 

They approach the realtor, and she greets them and introduces herself. Then they head inside. 

“Okay, immediately to the left is the mud room that leads to the two-car garage.” 

Sabo and Koala both take a peek inside. “I didn’t even think about the fact that we’d have to get a new washer and dryer. We rented at the apartment.” 

Koala nods. “Yeah, that’s usually something homeowners have to buy.” 

They walk in a little further.  

“You got the dining room and kitchen with an island that could fit a couple chairs. All the appliances and a decent sized pantry.” 

Sabo let’s Koala explore the kitchen a bit. 

“A living room.” She points to the door across from the dining room. “Master suite with two walk-in closets and a full-size bath, with his and her sinks.” 

He and Koala follow her into the bedroom. It's like another hallway. With the bathroom being immediately to the right, and then the walk end closets on the end right across from each other. That leads to the bedroom. 

"You could probably fit a king in here, if you didn't have end table."

Koala chuckles. "Okay."

"Shall we see the other two bedrooms?"

Sabo and Koala nod. "Lead the way."

They follow her out the room, past the kitchen and living room to a little hall that has a bathroom straight ahead and two bedrooms on either side.

"You two have any kids?"

"No." Sabo says at the same time his girlfriend says. "We want to some day." That was news to him. They've literally only talked about kifds once and for very briefly.

The realtor smiles. "So, any questions for me?"

"Yes." Koala says. 

Sabo quirks a brow at her.

"Where do we sign?"

Sabo frowns. "You sure babe?"

Koala nods. "You like it right?"

"Yes, but it's only the first house we've seen."

His girlfriend shrugs. "It's across from Ace, that's what you wanted right?"

She has a point. He looks at the realtor. "Guess we're taking it."

She grins. "Okay then. I'll get everything started."

Guess they're homeowners now. 

Chapter Text

Sabo for some reason has spotty listening this morning as he and his class take this tour. He can’t stop thinking about his brother at home, doing chores instead of here with them. Then again Ace might hate this more. Spring Break is supposed to be fun, not more school, but Sabo enjoys it. He just can’t seem to enjoy it without Ace here. 

“Sabo!” 

Sabo is startled out of his thought and looks at his uncle. Everyone is staring at him. “Uhhhh.” 

“Are you okay kid?” 

Sabo nods. “Yes.” 

“Are you sure, I called you like five times.” 

Sabo frowns. “Sorry.” 

His uncle sighs and looks at the teacher. “Take them on ahead. We’ll catch up.” 

The teacher nods and continues the tour with the rest of his class. His sister hesitates to leave with them until Shanks tells her to go. 

His uncle walks him over to a bench and they have a seat. “What’s wrong kid?” 

Sabo frowns. “I miss Ace.” 

“Ah.” 

“He was just trying to help.” 

“I know kid, but Ace made a decision that put both of you at risk.” 

“Yeah, but I went along with him, why am I not being punished too?” 

Shanks sighs. “I’m pretty sure your dad gave you a reason kid.” 

“I guess, it just doesn’t seem fair that Ace is getting punished cause I’m questioning who I am.” 

His uncle sighs again. “So, you’re not enjoying yourself because you don’t feel that your dad was fair?” 

Sabo shrugs. “I guess. Maybe, I don’t know.” 

Shanks chuckles. “Well, what’s done is done. You’re here, so let’s try and cheer up a little and hopefully Ace will be able to attend the summer trip yeah?” 

Sabo nods. “Okay.” 

His uncle wraps his arm around him. “It’ll be fine kid, just a few more days and you’ll be back home with your brother. Causing more trouble, I’m sure.” 

Sabo smiles. With Ace, anything is possible. 

*********************************************  

The sale of their house went surprisingly fast, so he and Koala got the keys yesterday, so he and Koala were currently picking out paint colors for each room. Well, she was picking out paint, he doesn’t really care.  

“I think it would be perfect if we had one of each, so pink and blue?” 

Sabo chuckles. “Sure, but boys might be easier.” 

“Awww, but those cute little bows.” 

Sabo chuckles again. “Babe, we’re not even engaged yet, we have plenty of time and besides, not like we get a say.” 

Koala pouts. “I know, I just, I’m a little excited.” 

He smiles and leans in to kiss her. “Me too, but we need to decide. I already gave my landlord my notice.” 

She chuckles. “Fine, let’s start in our room then.” 

He nods. “Perfect.” 

“Oh! We need a dog. The kids will need a dog.” 

Sabo chuckles again. “Babe, I promise we will talk about a dog when the time comes, but first we actually need to move in.” 

She smiles. “I know you’re right; I just can’t help it.”  

“I know babe.” 

They’ve narrowed it down to three colors when suddenly the front door busts open. 

“Sabo!?” 

Sabo frowns and goes to see what’s wrong. Koala follows.  

Ace is shaking and clearly been crying. 

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” 

Ace takes a shaky breath. “Dad, just called.” Ace starts to tear up again. “Marco, he….” He starts to hyperventilate. 

Sabo frowns. “Okay, okay, you need to breathe Ace.” 

Sabo helps Ace take a few deep breaths. “Okay, now, what’s wrong with Marco?” 

“He got into a car accident, he and Tama are in the hospital. Drive me there?” 

Sabo nods. “Yeah, of course.” 

Sabo barely brings his car to a stop when Ace basically leaps from the car, grabs his dog and runs inside. Sabo can understand the panic Ace is currently in. If Koala was the one in the hospital, he’d probably be freaking out too.  

Sabo finds a parking spot and heads inside as well to find his dad. 

“Dad.” He calls out as he approaches him and his detail, and pops apparently. Well, he his Marco’s dad so guess that makes sense for him to be here. “Where’s Ace?” 

His dad sighs. “With Tama.” 

“So, she’s okay?” 

His dad shrugs. “Sounds like it.” 

“And Marco?” 

“Don’t know yet.” 

“What happened?” 

“That’s what Smoker is going to find out. Marco and Tama aren’t the only ones that truck hit.” 

Sabo frowns. “What do you mean?” 

His dad clicks his tongue. “According to reports that I’ve heard so far, he hit four cars before he hit Marco and then continued to hit two more after that. Then eventually flipped his truck. He was arrested on scene with minor injury.” 

Sabo’s jaw drops. “How in the hell?”  

His dad sighs. “I’m pretty sure he was drunk as sin.” 

His next question was how in the hell did the vehicle even continue to drive after that many accidents when another voice popped into the conversation.  

“Or high.” 

Sabo looks over at his younger brother and frowns. 

“Could be.” Their dad confirms. 

“Why are you here?” 

“Sabo.” His dad warns. 

Sabo clicks his tongue. Fine, he’ll play nice. For now. 

Luffy sighs. “Coby had the baby.” 

Sabo frowns. “I thought he wasn’t due til next month.” 

Luffy shrugs. “He came early.” 

Sabo hums. “Well, congrats I guess.” 

Luffy nods. “Thanks.” 

“Daddy.”  

Sabo turns to see Annie coming in with her service dog, Chief. Even though she gained her sight back their dad arranged it to where he can be with her permanently. Having the Commissioner who has a lot of connections and friends as a father really comes in handy sometimes. She gives their dad a hug. “Where is he?” 

His dad sighs. “A nurse took him back to see Tama.” 

Ann nods and goes to find their brother. 

“Mr. Newgate.” 

Everyone turns towards Law.  

“How is he?” 

“Out of surgery and stable, want me to take you to him?” 

Pops nods. “Please.” Pops follows Law to the back.  

“Well, what do you want me to do?” 

His dad sighs. “Let’s let Smoker and the investigators do their job and bring us all the facts. For now, we need to be here for Marco and Ace.” 

Sabo nods.  

They waited for what felt like an eternity before Smoker appeared. “Well, you were right, the guy’s blood alcohol was so high he could use it to climb to heaven.” 

Their dad sighs. “Any casualties?” 

Smoker frowns and nods. “A family of four was t-boned, no idea how he drove away from that, and he hit a cyclist.” 

“Damn it.” 

“All the other vehicles had broken bones, cuts and bruises but no fatal injuries except Marco, but Law said he’s stable.” 

Their dad nods. “Yeah, he came and got Ed a while ago.” 

Smoker nods. “I’ll have all my reports on your desk as soon as I can.” 

His dad nods again. “Thanks Smokey.” 

“Not a problem.” Smoker takes his leave.  

A few moments later Annie re appears and gives their dad another hug. “I have to go, update me?” 

“Of course, kiddo.” 

Then she leaves.  

A few moments later Ace enters the waiting area again. Ace immediately frowns at the sight of Luffy and Sabo can’t blame him. Sabo can see the hurt and anger behind his eyes and Sabo is inclined to agree. Luffy messed up fucking royally and he’s going to have to really prove himself to earn their forgiveness. Well Sabo’s at least, he can’t speak for Ace. 

Luffy sighs. “I better get back to Coby.” Luffy obviously got the message. “Hope Marco’s okay.” Then he leaves. 

“Ace.” Their dad is obviously not happy with them shunning Luffy, but, and Sabo may just sound like a child here, Luffy started it. It was his fault. He’s the one who chose drugs over family. He’s the one who had secrets. He’s the one who broke their trust.  

Ace clicks his tongue, clearly annoyed with being corrected. “Did Law say whether or not Marco can be seen?” 

Their dad sighs. Sabo can tell that their dads patience is running thin. “Ed is with him.” When their dad reveals the room number Ace goes to find a nurse to take him there. 

“I don’t give a damn that you two are fucking adults, get your fucking shit together and make the hell up with your brother.” His dad stomps off and Bo and Tashigi follow.  

Five curse words in one sentence? Yeah, their mom is rolling over in her grave. 

By time Sabo got home, it was late. Koala had texted him that her dads had wanted her home, so he went ahead and headed straight back to his apartment. He already started packing, not that there was much left to pack, just his room. Ace and Marco sold all the furniture that they weren’t taking with them, and Sabo probably should tell Luffy that whatever is left in his bedroom that he hasn’t already picked up needs to go before Sabo officially moves out and their lease is officially up. 

“Deputy Commissioner.” 

Sabo nearly jumps out of his skin at the voice and turns to look at the individual. 

He chuckles. “Don’t worry kid, I won’t hurt ya.” 

It takes Sabo a minute just to realize who in the hell is in his apartment. “Uncle Sham?” 

His uncle laughs. “That’s me.” 

“The hell are you doing here?” 

His uncle chuckles. “I just have a couple questions.” 

Sabo sighs. “Not sure I should answer those, don’t think for a second I don’t know just what it is exactly that you do.” 

His uncle laughs. "I promise, I don't need any sensitive information. I just need some info on a certain individual."

Sabo quirks a brow. "What individual exactly?"

His uncle grins. Evilly he might add. "An inmate. A one Charlotte Katakuri."

Sabo frowns. The hell?

Chapter Text

Arlong finishes tucking in Koala after a rough time trying to get her to bed. She’s been clingy and not really wanting to sleep in her own bed lately. 

He stands turns off her lamp and slowly tiptoes out of her room. He leaves her door cracked.  

Arlong quietly makes his way to their bedroom.  

Fisher chuckles as he enters. “Finally out?” 

Along groans. “Yes, it only took five bedtime stories.” 

His husband chuckles again then goes back to his reading. 

Along rolls his eyes and heads to their bathroom to shower.  

Washed up he decides against clothes and just goes and climbs in his husband’s lap. Shoving away the book.  

Fisher groans and reaches around to squeeze Arlong’s ass. “Shit babe. Bold tonight, are we?” 

Arlong nods and grinds down onto his husband. “We have a clingy kindergartener that has kept us from being intimate for a while.” He leans down to kiss his husband. “I need you.” 

Fisher groans again and swiftly flips them. Fisher starts to remove his pants. 

“Daddy? Papa?” 

They jump and Arlong quickly covers, and Fisher pulls his pants back up.  

“Hey baby, you’re supposed to be asleep.” Fisher goes to her and Arlong is thankfully thrown a pair of sweats by his husband after he picks up Koala.  

“Sleep with you, please daddy?” 

Fisher sighs and looks back at Arlong.  

He rolls his eyes. “Fine come on.” 

“Yay!” 

Fisher chuckles as he puts her in the middle of the bed and leans over to kiss Arlong. “I’m gonna go take a cold shower.” 

Arlong chuckles.  

“But you’ll be cold daddy.” 

Fisher gives her a kiss next. “Don’t worry baby, daddy likes the cold.” He heads to the bathroom. Arlong hears the water turn on.  

“Koala baby, I thought you were a big girl?” 

“I am Papa.” 

“Big girls sleep in their own beds.” 

She frowns. “Oh, then I not a big girl. I wanna sleep with papa and daddy forever.” 

Yeah, that’s not going to happen.  

“Another story papa?” 

Arlong smiles. “Sure baby. What story would you like?” 

“The one where you and daddy dopted me.” 

He chuckles. “You got it baby.” 

******************************************  

Arlong was a hundred percent sure that his daughter would eventually grow out of cuddles with her dads, but he’s proven wrong as he sits here in his bed, running his fingers through his daughter's hair as she sleeps beside him. His back was bothering him, so he decided to put the heating pad on and get some work done on his laptop. Check the books, cover his tracks. When Koala popped her head in and decided to join him on the bed and chat for a while. He listened as best he could. He does vaguely remember Sabo’s name coming up a time or two. She’s really head over heels for this boy, and it really breaks his heart. She eventually laid down as she continued to talk, and it eventually wore her out. She fell asleep and so here he was a forty-six-year-old man with his grown daughter sleeping in his bed.  

Arlong chuckles and just gets back to work. 

“Just like old times huh?” 

Arlong looks up at Fisher and smiles. “Yeah, passed out a while ago. You’re home earlier than you thought.” 

His husband hums. “They just don’t want to come to an agreement, so I told them that it was my terms or there was no deal.” 

Arlong hums. “Sorry babe.” 

Fisher shrugs. “Not like us not taking their business is gonna hurt us.” 

True.  

“How’s your back?” 

Arlong shrugs. “Better with the heat on it.” 

“You should make an appointment babe.” 

He sighs. “As much as I hate it, I’m pretty sure you’re right.” 

Fisher smirks. “Of course I am.” 

Arlong rolls his eyes.  

Fisher chuckles and takes a seat on the edge of his side of the bed. He gently wakes their daughter.  

Koala groans.  

Or tries to. 

“Come on kid, your own bed.” 

She just rolls over and tries to bury herself deeper into Arlong’s side.  

Arlong snorts. “I think she’s out.” 

Fisher sighs.  “Guess I’ll have to resort to violence.” 

Arlong quirks a brow.  

Fisher smirks and reaches down to start tickling Koalas feet. 

She immediately kicks her feet. “Stawwwwp.” 

They both chuckle.  

“Bed kid.” 

“But I’m comfortable.” 

Fisher sighs. “Okayyy, but then you’re gonna be stuck between us as we start making out.” 

Koala groans and finally sits up. She glares weakly at her dad. “Meanie.” 

Fisher chuckles. “You’re not a baby anymore kid, you can’t be in here.” He nods towards the door.  

She sighs. “Fine.” She scoots to the end of the bed and stands.  

Arlong chuckles as she exits. 

“Now, as for you.” 

Arlong once again quirks a brow at his husband.  

“I believe I promised a make out session.” 

Arlong rolls his eyes but sets aside his laptop to welcome the onslaught of kisses from his husband.  

Arlong moans when Fisher adds tongue.  

“Want to do more than just make out?” 

Arlong nods. “Always.” 

“Good answer.” 

Arlong chuckles.  

Arlong was sitting at his desk going over the books, both sets, when there was a knock on the door before it swung open.  

“What?” He doesn’t even look up. 

“Sorry to interrupt, but there’s someone here to see you.” Kuroobi says. 

“I’m busy, tell them to make an appointment.” 

“Yeah, we tried that already. He won’t leave.” 

“Did he say why?” 

“Because I only take orders from the Mayor and God.” 

Arlong looks up to see the Commissioner shoving past Kuroobi then he takes a seat across from Arlong. 

“Give us a minute Kuroobi.” 

Kuroobi nods and shuts the door. 

Arlong closes both books and puts them in his desk drawer. “What can I do for you Commissioner?” 

“First, I was never here, second, I’m not here as the Police Commissioner but as future family.” 

“And third?” 

“Whatever the hell you’ve gotten yourself into with the Charlotte family, get yourself out, before it’s too late.” 

Shit, he knows something.  Arlong leans back in his chair. “Whatever do you mean Commissioner?” 

Dragon scoffs. “Play dumb if you like, but I’m giving you two weeks to do the right thing before the file on my desk turns into an actual open investigation. We both know it’s not just fish you’re delivering in those deliveries if the Charlotte Family has gotten involved. So do yourself and your family a favor and don’t make me have to arrest you.” Dragon stands. “I wouldn’t want to start my relationship with my future daughter in law with her angry at me.” 

Dragon takes a step towards the door. 

“Wait.” 

He looks back at Arlong. 

“I’m not admitting to anything, but out of curiosity, how’d you find out?” 

“A child concerned about her parents.” 

Koala. Damn it. He knew she was gonna start poking around after that night. 

“Little advice, if it is just you, and your husband isn’t involved, don’t take him down with you. Cause I may have no choice, depending on how deep you’re actually in this thing.” Dragon leaves. 

Damn it, he’s so fucking screwed. 

“How bad is it?” 

Arlong sighs and looks up at Kuroobi. “Just make sure the shipment is ready for the pick-up tonight.” 

He nods. “Yes boss.” 

He’ll worry about Dragon later. 

The rest of the day goes by as usual, except now he can’t stop worrying about his daughter. Her poking around could possibly put her in more danger than she already is. He only agreed to this stupid arrangement, and yes, he’s very aware that it’s stupid and could potentially land his ass in jail for a very long time, because not only did they threaten Fisher and Koala if he didn’t cooperate, but they offered protection for his business. Quid pro quo. 

You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. 

They get to use his company as a cover for their shipping needs, and he gets to not die, and they pay him a percentage. He didn’t agree to it at first, but then they threatened his family and well, he has to keep them safe. His family is off limits, as long as he does what they say, and that’s label their shipments as legal merchandise.  

A knock on his door and he knows exactly who it is. 

“You’re working late, again.” 

He looks up at his husband and smiles. “I’m just finishing up, but you go on ahead home, I’ll be there shortly.” 

Fisher frowns. “You sure you’re okay? You seem a bit off today.” 

Arlong smiles and nods. “Yeah, just still in a bit of pain.” 

“You make that appointment?” 

He nods again. “Yes, I go in Monday. Think you can handle things without me for a few hours?” 

Fisher chuckles, walks around the desk and leans down to kiss him. “Yes, the paperwork can wait one day, I just don’t want to see you hurting anymore.” 

Arlong smiles and gives his husband another kiss. “I’ll be okay babe. Go, I’ll be home in a bit.” 

His husband nods and gives him one more kiss. “I love you.” 

“Love you too.” 

After most of the workers cleared for the night, Arlong, along with Kuroobi, Hatchan and Chew, head to the meeting spot. 

They already have the truck loaded and ready to go. They leave the back open cause the person picking up the shipment always inspects it before they take it off Arlongs hand. 

He watches as two black SUVs pull up and then a new face, he’s never dealt with before gets out, followed by two armed guards, and the two ‘drivers.’ 

“Mr. Tiger.” He buttons his suit jacket as he approaches Arlong and his men. “I presume everything is in order?” 

Arlong nods. “Yes.” He hands over the manifest. 

As the newcomer looks over the manifest Arlong can’t quite figure out where he’s seen this man before. He knows the Charlotte family is huge and he’s never met them all, but he usually deals with the same handful of people. They usually rotate and it’s never the same person two weeks in a row.  

The guy nods and hands over the manifest to one of the drivers. “Make it snappy.” 

The driver nods. “Yes boss.” 

“We appreciate your cooperation Mr. Tiger.” Like he has a choice. “I look forward to seeing you next week.” He turns. 

“Wait.” 

The guy turns back towards Arlong and quirks a brow.  

“I never see the same guy twice.” 

The guy smirks. “The Charlotte Family is under new management; there’s a few changes that are being implemented. Expect to see me quite often Mr. Tiger.” He takes a few more steps towards his car. “Oh and.” He looks back at Arlong. “I’m a lot more dangerous, so, don’t ever question my methods again.” He then gets in his car followed by his guards. Then the two SUVs, followed by the Semi leave his docks. 

Shit, Dragon may have given him that warning, way too late.  

When he finally arrives home it’s late and all the lights are off. He doesn’t bother eating, he’s not hungry. He just heads upstairs and decides to check in on Koala before he heads to bed. 

Except Koala isn’t in her bed. He frowns. She must be with Sabo tonight.  

Arlong sighs and just heads to his room. Fisher is passed out but the television is still on. Late night news. He must have fallen asleep while watching a movie. Arlong walks over and sits on the edge of the bed and starts to remove his shoes when something on the television catches his eye. There on the screen, standing on stage beside the new Mayor as he gives some sort of press conference is the man that was just at his docks.  

He growls. What the actual hell?  

“Babe?” 

Arlong turns towards his husband. “Sorry, did I wake you?” 

Fisher shakes his head as he sits up. “No, gotta pee. You just now getting in?” 

Arlong sighs. “Yeah, sorry, got carried away with the books and manifests.” 

His husband nods.  

“Who’s that guy standing by the Mayor?” 

His husband frowns and squints at the television. “Oh, um, he’s a former lawyer, I think, took over as Chief Justice when Mihawk got elected Mayor, well, I guess he wasn’t technically elected since the former Mayor apparently was a criminal and forced out of office.” 

It’s the perfect cover. Who in the hell would suspect a Judge as the head of a crime syndicate? He can also cover his tracks, stay in the loop of what the cops know. It’s honestly genius.  

“Why? Know him?” 

Arlong shakes his head. “No, was just curious.” 

His husband hum as he gets out of bed to go use the bathroom.  

Arlong just turns off the television and finishes undressing and climbs into bed.  

“Koala with Sabo tonight?” He asks his husband as he climbs back into bed. 

“Yeah, something about paint colors."

"Are we about to become grandparents way too fucking young?"

His husband sighs. "I honestly don't believe they've been intimate yet, but in the slight chance I'm wrong, all the guns in the safe are cleaned and ready."

Arlong chuckles as he scoots over to meet his husband in the middle. Fisher throws an arm over his waist. "I love you."

Arlong hums. "I love you too."

"Sleep now."

He smiles. "Yes, promise." He'll worry about everything else another day. Right now he's going to enjoy being in the arms of the man he loves. 

Chapter Text

“Soooooo.” His brother starts. “Decide who you’re asking to the prom?” 

Sabo sighs. “No one.” 

“What!? It’s our Senior Prom; you have to take someone. Especially since you didn’t take anyone last year.” 

Sabo sighs. “I’m just not interested in anyone.” 

Ace groans into his pillow. 

Sabo rolls his eyes and just continues to read. 

“Well, Annie doesn’t have a date either, go with her.” 

Sabo chuckles. “That’s cause any guy that looks at her is afraid you’re going to murder him.” 

“And you aren’t?” 

Sabo snorts. “Okay, fair.” 

“Besides, Ain’s going to be there, and someone needs to keep an eye on her and her bully posse, and I’ll be with Vivi.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes, again. Ain, the girl that’s apparently been bullying their sister for years and no one knew until Annie finally decided to shut her up with a broken nose. Their sister finally snapped after Ain apparently crossed the line and said some shitty things about her and Ace's biological father. It did however cost Ann her spot on the cheer team, and she got suspended for two weeks, had to deliver an apology letter and they are being separated for the remainder of Senior year.  

Ace chuckles. “Man, you should have seen the feral in Ann’s eye, I’ve never seen her so angry.” 

Sabo snorts. “I bet, I can’t imagine what I’d do if someone talked bad about dad.” 

“I can tell you that you wouldn’t sock someone in the nose hard enough to break it and need surgery.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Too bad for Ain she got uglier.” 

Ace cackles. 

“I believe lights out, was hours ago.” 

He and Ace look towards the door to see their father standing in the doorway, arms crossed, scowl on his face.  

“Our lights are out.” Ace counters. 

“Lights out includes book lights.” Their dad glares at the light attached to Sabo’s book. “And mouths closed. Sleeping, not gossiping. Put it away and go to sleep, you have school tomorrow.” 

Sabo sighs.  

“Yes sir.” They say together. 

********************************************* 

Sabo should tell his dad, right? He should totally tell his dad. 

His criminal crime boss extraordinaire uncle was in his apartment so he should totally tell his dad, right? 

So why can’t he bring himself to do it? 

Instead, he’s isolated himself in his office, doing research on a criminal to find out just why in the hell his uncle is so damn interested in him.  

Then an idea popped in his head, that he hated so damn much, but he doesn't see another option. Sabo picks up his phone and dials the one person he can think of that has met Charlotte in person. 

“Sabo?” Sounds like he was sleeping. 

Damn it. 

“Hey, um, listen I’m still not happy with you but I need a favor.” 

Luffy sighs. “Hold on.” He hears shuffling on the other end. “What?” 

Sabo sighs. “I need to know about Charlotte Katakuri.” 

“What about him?” 

“Did he tell you anything about why he’s there?” 

Luffy snorts. “You really think a prison full of people our dad put away is going to talk to me, his son?” 

Fair point. Sabo sighs. “Right.” 

“Dad, however, said he was in for attempted murder. Why aren’t you asking him this?” 

Sabo frowns. “Because, of, well, reasons.” 

“Let me guess.” Luffy says. “You don’t want dad to know you’re looking into him.” 

“Okay, yeah, so what?” 

Luffy sighs. “Nothing, it’s none of my business anyway. Just be careful, believe me when I tell you, keeping secrets from dad, isn’t a good idea.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. Like Luffy is one to give advice. “Except I’m not hiding a secret drug problem, or harboring a drug dealer.” 

“Yeah, but if you're asking about Kat, you might as well be. You as the DCPI do know what the Charlotte family is involved in right?” 

Another eye roll. “I’m not stupid Lu.” 

“Just saying.” 

“Okay fine, smart ass, if you know so much tell me this. Why would a syndicate crime boss be so interested in a prisoner with fifteen years left on his sentence?” 

Luffy sighs. “I’m not a cop Sabo, nor do I work with cops, but if I had to guess, maybe bump up security.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “People just don’t escape from prison like they do on TV Luffy.” 

“You asked.” 

Okay, true, but still.  

“Look, Kat saved my life while I was locked up, more than once.” Now that’s news to Sabo. “And from what I gathered from our limited chats, he went against his mother's orders and didn’t kill someone. That’s all I know. So, whoever this person is that's asking about him, either doesn’t know he chose not to obey, or is trying to get revenge for even trying.” 

Both very possible.  

“I can’t tell you what to do, but our dad made Commissioner for a reason, and he has a right to know.” 

A baby starts crying in the background, Sonny Sabo guesses. Luffy sighs. “I got to go. For what it’s worth, I enjoyed talking with you.” 

Sabo nods. 

Luffy hangs up.  

Sabo sighs as he places his phone down on his desk. What the hell is he gonna do? 

“Alright.” 

Sabo jumps at his dad’s voice and looks up to see his dad scowling in the doorway.  

“Out with it, what’s wrong?” 

Sabo quirks a brow. “That was locked.” 

His dad points to himself. “Cop.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. 

His dad stands straight, closes the door, locks it back and walks to take a seat in front of Sabo. “So? Start talking." 

Sabo clears his throat. “Oh, you know, just um, talking to Lu.” 

His dad quirks a brow. “Oh yeah? About what exactly?” 

“Um......stuff?” 

His dad chuckles dangerously.  

Shit. 

“Son, you work for me. It is your job to keep accurate and effective information flowing to the public and myself. I cannot guide my police force correctly if I have inaccurate information, or if something is being hidden from me.” 

Sabo frowns. 

“So again, I ask, what is wrong?” 

Sabo sighs. “Uncle Sham paid me a visit the other night.” 

His dad groans, pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a few deep breaths before regaining his composure. “What about?” 

Sabo shrugs. 

****************************************  

“Deputy Commissioner.” 

Sabo nearly jumps out of his skin at the voice and turns to look at the individual. 

He chuckles. “Don’t worry kid, I won’t hurt ya.” 

It takes Sabo a minute just to realize who in the hell is in his apartment. “Uncle Sham?” 

His uncle laughs. “That’s me.” 

“The hell are you doing here?” 

His uncle chuckles. “I just have a couple questions kid.” 

Sabo sighs. “Not sure I should answer those, don’t think for a second I don’t know just what it is exactly that you do.” 

His uncle laughs again. “I promise, I don’t need any sensitive information. I just need some info on a certain individual.” 

Sabo quirks a brow. “What individual exactly?” 

His uncle grins. Evilly he might add. “An inmate. A one Charlotte Katakuri.” 

Sabo frowns. The hell? “Why him specifically?” 

“Call me curious.” 

Sabo sighs. “Well, I’m the wrong person to ask. I don’t know much about him except that he's in prison and that he’s the son of Linlin Charlotte, AKA Big Mom.” 

His uncle hums. “I know all that already kid.” 

“Well, that’s all I know.” 

“Oh, come on, Luffy doesn’t talk about him at all?” 

Sabo frowns. “Why would Luffy talk about him?” 

“Because they spent a lot of time together on the inside.” 

“You know about Luffy?” 

His uncle chuckles. “It’s my business to know kid.” 

“If you know so damn much, why are you here?” 

Another laugh. “One cannot be too thorough kid. I like to do my homework. Plus, I keep up with everything going on in my family’s life. Everything.” 

Sabo frowns. “Did you kill Orochi?” Why was that the first thought that came to his mind? 

His uncle sighs. “Sadly, the Joker got to him first, or I would have. No one touches my family. No one.” 

How touching. 

His uncle chuckles evilly again. “Would have been hell a fun though.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes.  

“I’d have chopped off his dick and watched him choke on it.” 

Sabo sighs. “I’m not hearing any of this.” Not that he doesn’t agree that would have been a better punishment.  

His uncle shrugs. “I didn’t do it though.” 

“It doesn’t matter Uncle Sham! I work with cops, I work with dad, I cannot sit here and listen to you talk about killing people. I should be calling them now.” 

His uncle smiles. “Right. Well, thanks for the talk kid.” His uncle stands and buttons his suite jacket. “Piece of advice, do that girlfriend of yours a favor and keep her as far away from the docks as possible.” 

Sabo frowns. “Why?” 

“Can’t tell you that kid.” His uncle then taps him on the shoulder and leaves.  

The hell just happened? 

**************************************  

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner son?” 

Sabo shrugs again. “I don’t know. I guess I figured he didn’t technically admit to a crime.” 

His dad sighs. “You do realize that Sham is wanted in multiple countries, right son?” 

Sabo frowns. “If I say no, would you believe me?” 

His dad glares at him. 

That’s a no. 

“Although, I do agree with him on one thing.” 

Sabo quirks a brow at his dad.  

“Watching Orochi choke on his own dick would have been fun.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “I was born into a family of psychopaths'.” 

“The guy raped my daughter son.” 

Sabo sighs. “Fair enough.” 

“Any idea what he meant with the docks comment?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “No. Think her dads are doing something shady?” 

His dad shrugs. “I have my suspicions.” 

Sabo groans. Damn it. “Please tell me I’m not about to keep a huge secret from my girlfriend?” 

His dad sighs. “I think she also has her suspicions.” 

Sabo frowns. “What do you mean?” 

“Koala saw Arlong talking with one of Linlin’s sons. Her right-hand man to be exact.” 

Shit.  

“Katakuri was her right hand until he was arrested after turning himself in.” 

Sabo frowns. “Why?” 

His dad sighs. “He grew a heart apparently. He pleaded guilty, took a deal and has spent five of his twenty years being a model prisoner.” 

“So, what, Uncle Sham is trying to get him out?” Why is he listening to Luffy’s crazy theory? 

His dad shrugs. “Maybe.” 

Damn it, Luffy’s right? 

“Who knows? This is Sham we’re talking about no one ever knows what’s going through his mind but Sham himself.” 

Sabo hums.  

“Look son.” His dad stands. “If he ever shows his face again, you need to tell me right away. He’s dangerous. Family or not, he needs to be behind bars.” 

Sabo sighs. “Yes sir.” 

His dad nods and takes a step towards Sabo’s office door.  

“Oh dad.” 

His dad looks at him.  

“If you have to arrest Koalas dads, think they’ll still let me propose?” 

His dad snorts.  

That’s what he thought. 

When Sabo walks into their house his nose is immediately assaulted with the fumes of paint. 

“Oh oh oh oh!” Koala comes running out of the little hallway that leads to the two spare rooms. She’s wearing coveralls and she’s covered in splotches of paint. “Yay, you're home.” She runs up to him and takes his hand before dragging him off to the room on the right. “Tada!” 

On the back wall of the room is a still drying rainbow. With a sun and birds and a couple of clouds. “Wow, I love it.” 

“Really? You mean it?” 

Sabo chuckles. “Of course, babe. Wait.” He looks down at her. “Is this your way of telling me you’re pregnant?” 

Koala rolls her eyes. 

Sabo chuckles.  

"I'm starting to think you have no idea how babies are actually made."

Sabo chuckles again and leans down to kiss his girlfriend. "I'm fully aware how babies are made and I cannot wait to take that step with you when we're ready. Oh and when I'm in no danger of receiving those cement shoes."

Koala chuckles. 

"So, you do anything in the other room?"

Koala shakes her head. "Not yet."

Sabo nods. "Well, we got plenty of time to decide. Want to wash up and I'll order in for dinner and we can watch a movie and snuggle on the bed?"

Kola smiles. "Yes."

He leans down to kiss her. "Great."

Koala giggles as she runs out of the room and towards their bedroom he assumes. He looks at the mural one more time and frowns. Sabo really wants to build a family with Koala, but it seems both their families are up to something shady so Sabo wouldn't feel comfortable starting that family until whoever needs to be behind bars is there. 

Chapter Text

Sabo finished helping Allie with the camera lens and started looking around for his sister. After coming up empty and trying so damn hard not to panic, he decided to find Ace instead.  

“Ace, have you seen Annie?” 

Ace and Vivi frown. “No.” 

“She might have gone to the bathroom.” Vivi suggested.  

Sabo nods. “Yeah, good point.” He starts walking there.  

On his way he spots Ain and her posse giggling about something and he rolls his eyes.  

Sabo knocks on the door. He cracks it open a tad. “Annabelle?” 

No answer.  

“A young lady just ran out of there a bit ago. Crying by the looks of it.” 

Sabo turns towards the voice and quirks a brow at the person. He doesn’t recognize him, but maybe he’s a parent?  “I’m sorry, do I know you?” 

The guy smiles creepily. “Just picking up my niece.”  

Sabo nods. “Uh huh.” He needs to find Shanks. Something about this guy seems off. 

********************************************  

Sabo shoots up in bed with a gasp. Hand on his chest taking a few deep breaths to calm his racing heart. How in the hell is he just now realizing that he met the bastard that murdered Ain and raped his sister? 

“Sabo?” 

Sabo looks down at his girlfriend. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.” 

Koala hums as she sits up. “You, okay?” 

Sabo nods.  

“Are you sure, you’re sweating and it’s pretty cool in here.” 

Sabo sighs. “Remember when I told you that my sister was accused of murder back in high school?” 

Koala hums. “Yeah?” 

“Well, I uh, just realized that I saw the actual murderer that night, and he just so happens to be the same guy that attacked and raped Annabelle last year.” 

“Oh.” 

“I knew something was off about him and I went to Shanks right away, but by time we got back he was gone. And that’s when Ain was discovered in the bathroom. A stall of all places.” 

“I’m sorry.” 

Sabo shrugs and just lies back down. Bringing Koala with him to lay on his chest. “I’m okay, and so is Annie, I think.” 

Koala hums. “Sleep now?” 

Sabo chuckles and kisses the top of her head. “Yeah.” 

Sabo sighs as he sets down his coffee. Hoping the warm liquid will help him get through the day after a sleepless night, well half sleepless after his sudden memory trigger in dream form. He has no idea why that never clicked before. His only guess is that it took a back burner to his sister in trouble. Her being the number one suspect and all. All of Ain’s friends said that Annabelle attacked Ain in the bathroom and Annies bloody nose was just Ain defending herself, but Sabo knew better. The cops however, needed proof. Thankfully Zoro and his dad were able to verify that Ann was indeed with them the time Ain was killed. Also, Sabo saw her on the dance floor after Ann had already left.  

“Son?” 

Sabo looks up at his mom. 

“You okay?” 

Sabo sighs. “Sorry, just didn’t sleep well.” 

She frowns. “Sorry kid.” 

Sabo sighs. “I’ll be okay. That’s what coffee is for.” 

His mom chuckles. “So, um, how’s the girlfriend?” 

Sabo hums. “Fine, been on an HGTV high.” 

She chuckles again. “I bet. A new house can be exciting.” 

Sabo nods. “I understand she’s excited, I’m just worried she’s getting too excited, too fast.” 

His mom frowns. “Why honey?” 

Sabo sighs. “I don’t know. I mean, yeah, we bought a house, but we’re not married yet, and we haven’t even had sex, and she’s already planning how many kids we’ll have and their names.” 

His mom chuckles. “Well, are you gonna ask her?” 

Sabo sighs. “I want to, we’ve been dating over a year, but...” 

“But?” 

Damn he’s about to sound like a coward. “Her dads are scary.” Sabo just knows he’s going to end up with those concrete shoes. 

His mom snorts. “Son, you love this woman, correct?” 

Sabo nods. “Very much.” 

“Then don’t let your fear prevent you from being happy son. At the end of the day, they’re just as human as you are. They may seem scary, but they’re just trying to do what’s right for their daughter, and you should have nothing to worry about, cause you’re what’s right.” 

Sabo smiles. “Thanks.” 

She smiles and shrugs. “I try.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes and takes another sip of his coffee.  

After his weekly coffee date with his mom, he had therapy, but Robin had to reschedule so he headed straight to work. He was currently working on emails and reports when someone clears their throat. 

“Do you need some time off?” 

 Sabo looks up at his dad and frowns. “No, why?” 

His dad shrugs and takes a seat across from him. That seems to be happening a lot lately. “You seem distracted and you missed this morning's meeting.” 

Sabo frowns and looks at his calendar. Sure enough there was a meeting scheduled at the same time he has coffee with his mom. He sighs. “Shit. I was having coffee.” 

His dad hums and nods. “Koala.” 

Sabo frowns. “Uh, no, mom actually.” 

“Oh.” His dad looks stunned, but only for a second. He clears his throat again. “How um, how is Didi?” 

Sabo quirks a brow. “Do you really want to know?” 

His dad shrugs again. “Sure, why not. I can be cordial.” 

Sabo chuckles and shakes his head. “She’s fine.” 

His dad nods. “Good, good, and um, her son, Stelly was it?” 

Sabo chuckles. “You don’t have to do this dad, I know mom makes you uncomfortable.” 

His dad sighs. “It’s not that son, it’s just, I don’t know. She broke my heart. Ripped it out of my crest, stomped all over it and crushed it into a million pieces.” 

Sabo snorts. “Gruesome.” 

His dad rolls his eyes. “I’m just trying to be supportive of the fact that you want a relationship with her, despite what she did to me.” 

Sabo nods. “Dad, I’m fine.” 

“I know you are son, just promise me you’ll be careful.” 

Sabo smiles. “I will dad. Promise. Now about that time off? Is it mandatory?” 

His dad chuckles. “No.” 

“Great, then I’m gonna need you to skedaddle, I’m busy.” 

His dad snorts as he stands. “Careful son, I’m your father and boss. I can have you grounded and fired at the same time.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes.  

His dad laughs as he leaves Sabo’s office. 

While Sabo has been enjoying his weekly coffees with his bio mom, surprisingly, he misses his real mom. The mom that raised him, the mom that was there for him his entire life, well, entire life not including the two years his dad raised him on his own. Anyway, he was missing her so much that he decided to make Arroz de Marisco.  

“Something smells good.” 

Sabo looks over at Koala and smiles. “One of moms favorites.” 

Koala hums.  

“Although she’d only make it on days dad worked overnights since he’s allergic to shellfish.” 

“I didn’t know that about your dad.” 

Sabo hums. “Yeah, so whenever we’d eat out, he always had a steak or burger but had to specify that he had an allergy and his stuff couldn’t be cooked on the same grill top.” 

Koala hums.  

“Mom also had a separate fridge in the garage where she kept all the seafood, so it never came in contact with dad's food.” 

She hums again. “Well, I’m gonna shower. Maybe we can eat on the couch with a movie, and possibly make out?” 

Sabo chuckles. “Hmmm, don’t know if I want to kiss someone with fish breath.” 

She smacks him and he laughs as she heads to their bedroom. 

“She’s cute.” 

“Shit.” Sabo jumps and puts his hand over his chest. He glares at the person that just entered. “Damn it Uncle Sham.” 

His uncle laughs.  

“Why are you here?” He quirks a brow. “And where the hell did you come from?” 

His uncle shrugs. “The nursery looks cute, y’all expecting?” 

Sabo frowns. “No.” They haven’t even had sex yet.  

“Do yourself a favor kid and don’t end up a forty-year-old virgin like your uncle.” 

Shit. Did he say that out loud? 

Wait. 

Sabo quirks a brow. “You didn’t have sex until you were forty?” 

His uncle snorts. “Not me, Shanks.” 

Sabo frowns. “Oh. Why are you here?” He pulls out his phone.  

“Don’t do it kid.” 

“Dad made me promise.” 

His uncle walks over and takes his phone. Then throws it in Sabo’s Arroz. Damn it. 

Sabo sighs. “What do you want?” 

“More information.” 

Sabo groans. “Why me?” 

His uncle chuckles. “The rest of your siblings are useless to me kid. Neither of them has access to police matters as much as you do.” 

Fair point.  

“And I’m not looking to get into the tattoo or bar business any time soon.” 

Again, fair. 

“Now, I assume the cutie won’t be long, so here’s the deal. All I need is for you to find me something to use as leverage against one Arlong Tiger.” 

Sabo frowns.  

“Cause the only leverage I have is currently showering in your bedroom.” 

Sabo glares at him. 

“And I don’t want to hurt my own flesh and blood, so find me something, or I do what we both don’t want me to do. Got it?” 

Sabo swallows. Then nods.  

“Great. You have a week.” 

Sabo frowns as his uncle heads back towards the bedroom he just came from. 

“Oh, and Sabo.” His Uncle turns to look at him. “Don’t think I won’t find out if you rat me out to daddy again.” 

Sabo swallows and nods.  

His uncle grins. “Glad we’re on the same page.” 

Damn it. What the hell is he supposed to do? 

“Whew. I love a good hot shower.” 

Sabo takes a second to fix his face and calm his racing heart. He turns towards Koala with a fake smile.  

“Why is your phone in the food?” 

Damn it! 

Sabo was spiriling. He was wracking his brain around the conversation he had with his uncle. How in the hell is he supposed to get leverage, let alone should he do it, and if he doesn’t, how does he alert his dad? Sham all but hinted that he had eyes and ears inside. Is it inside the police force, or inside his office? Hell, he’s going to need Sentomaru to sweep his office. Guess he’s picking up donuts on the way to work Monday. 

“Sabo?” 

Sabo sighs. “Living room.” 

“Hey.” Ace says as he enters into Sabo’s line of vision. “Dad just called, said you’re not answering your phone. He’s getting worried.” 

“Oh. I um, lost it, need a new one.” 

Ace frown as he takes a seat next to Sabo. “Lost it? Can’t you locate it with your watch?” 

Sabo sighs. “No, I know where it is. It just may have accidently fallen into a pot of Arroz de Marisco.” Or deliberately dropped in by their criminal uncle.  

Ace snorts. “Clumsy ass.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes.  

“Well, dad wants to know if we’re free tonight. He’s having Chewy put down. I guess everyone is gonna be there to say goodbye.” 

Sabo frowns.  

“I already told him no, not only is Luffy going to be there, but Chewy was more his dog than anyone else's.” 

Sabo hums. “Can you let him know that I can’t make it either.” 

Ace nods. “Don’t want to see Luffy either huh?” 

“Yeah.” That and he can’t face his dad right now, he just can’t. 

Ace sends their dad a text. 

“Hey, um, what do you remember about Uncle Sham?” 

Ace sighs. “Not much why?” 

Sabo shrugs. “Just curious.” 

“Uh huh.” 

“Where are the kids?” 

“Home with Carrot.” 

Sabo hums.  

“Uncle Sham hasn’t shown his face in sixteen years, why are you curious?” 

“No reason.” 

“Sab, come on it's me.” 

Sabo sighs. “Promise not to tell dad?” 

Ace quirks a brow. “Okay, sure, I promise.” 

“He was here.” 

“The hell? When?” 

Sabo sighs. “Couple weeks ago, and again last night.” 

“Twice in one month? That’s rare for Uncle Sham, but why such secrecy from dad?” 

Sabo quirks a brow at his brother. “Do you have any idea what Uncle Sham does for a living?” 

Ace shrugs. “Sure, he’s the CEO of some business overseas, why?” 

Sabo rolls his eyes. “No Ace, he’s a criminal, the business is just a cover.” 

“Since when?” 

Another eye roll. “I don’t know, I only know because I keep up with the most wanted list across agencies.” 

Ace sighs. “Wow had no clue. He was so cool when we were younger.” 

Sabo snorts.  

“So, you’re harboring a fugitive because?” 

Cue eye roll number four. “I’m not harboring him, technically, I don’t know where he is. He just pops in every now and then to.... talk, yeah talk.” 

“Uh huh. Look Sabo, I’m already pissed at one brother for doing criminal activities, don’t do something that’ll affect our relationship too.” 

“I don’t know what to do Ace, he said if I talked to dad, he’d in not so many words, hurt Koala.” 

Ace sighs. “Oh.” 

"What the hell am I supposed to do?"

"Well." Ace says. "He said you can't tell dad right?"

Sabo nods.

"Did he say anything about a certain police Corporal who's engaged to our brother?"

Now that just might work. 

Chapter Text

Sabo feels really bad for his sister right about now. Watching her be interrogated by a Detective, then being shamed and shunned at school for something she didn’t do.  

“Dad please?” Annabelle begs. 

Their dad sighs. “I’m sorry kid, I really am, but there’s only one month until graduation. There is absolutely no point in transferring you now. You have to go.” 

Annabelle sighs.  

“Now go, before you’re late.” 

Annabelle Sabo and Ace hop out of their dads SUV and start towards the high school. All the other students staring and whispering as they do. 

Ace puts his arm around Ann. “Ignore them sis, you did nothing wrong. They’re just jerks.” 

“It’s hard Ace.” 

Ace sighs. “I know.”  

They just continue to walk past everyone and head straight for homeroom.  

“I’ll see y’all for lunch.” Sabo tells them as they part ways. He heads straight to PreCal. 

The first half of the day went just awful. The snickering, the gossiping, the rumors. 

‘I bet she’s possessed by her criminal dad’s ghost.’ 

‘Like father, like daughter.’ 

‘I bet she was planning it for months.’ 

‘Ain was right, she shouldn’t have been born.’ 

That particular comment makes him snap. “Will you shut up!” 

The whole class stares at him. 

“Uh, Mr. Monkey.” His teacher says. “Care to share the reason for your little outburst?” 

Sabo frowns. “No ma’am.” 

She hums. “Then maybe keep your thoughts to yourself.” 

Sabo nods. “Yes ma’am.” 

The girls behind him snicker. 

“Can I please continue?” 

Another nod. “Yes ma’am.” 

She turns towards the board and continues to write. 

At lunch he finds his siblings isolated in a corner, at a table by themselves. Ace has his arm around Ann and she’s trying to disappear into his side.  

“Where’s Vivi?” Sabo asks as he takes a seat. 

Ace shrugs. “Her dad picked her up early.” 

“Ah.” 

“Your day as bad as ours?” 

Sabo sighs and nods. “Yeah.” 

Ann sniffles.  

Damn, he hates this whole situation. The next five weeks is going to be awful!  

**************************************************  

Sabo takes a deep breath before stepping off the elevator. He decided that after his talk with Coby and his lack of leverage against Arlong that he needed to risk it and tell his dad. He, however, wasn’t taking any chances with Koala so he unfortunately had to have a very uncomfortable conversation with his girlfriend this morning.  

****************************************** 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I understand. Your uncle, who just so happens to be some big shot in the drug world, is threatening to use me as leverage against my dad?” 

Sabo nods. 

She frowns. “Why?” 

Sabo sighs. “That, I don’t know. Look, all I’m asking is that until we take care of this, maybe find a place to hide out for a while.” 

Koala snorts. “I’m not some damsel that needs saving Sabo.” That’s literally how they met, but okay. “I can take care of myself.” 

Sabo groans. “Babe, that man you saw your dad with is a murderer and he’s dealing drugs, with the help of your dad!” 

Koala frowns. “You don’t know that.” 

“K, babe, this is serious. If I’m wrong, then great, be mad at me for falsely accusing your dad, but what if I’m not wrong Koala?” 

Koala stares at him for a moment and he just stares right back, trying to convince her that this is serious. She sighs. “Fine, but where am I going to go?” 

Sabo sighs. “I, um, have an idea, but you may not like it.” 

Koala narrows her eyes at him.  

He might just stay a virgin for a very long time after this. 

*******************************************  

So here he is about to ask his dad for a favor. He helped Koala pack a bag, and she had called her dads to convince them she had an out-of-town work thing and she’s currently on her way to work to put in for some time off. Then she’s going to meet him here.  

“Sabo.” 

Sabo looks up at Abby as he approaches his dad’s office.  

“I was just about to call you. He’s expecting you.” 

Wait, did they have a meeting scheduled? Sabo thinks back to his calendar. Nothing he can think of. Sabo frowns. “Am I in trouble?” 

She chuckles. “No.” 

Sabo nods and heads into his dad's office. “Dad, I need…..a favor.” Sabo stops in his tracks at the sight of the other people in the room. “Damn it, I am in trouble, aren’t I?” 

His dad points to a chair. “Have a seat son.” 

Hell. Sabo nods. “Yes sir.” 

“Abby, we’re not to be disturbed.” His dad speaks into the com. 

“Yes sir.” Comes her reply a second later. 

His dad hits the security button, stands, grabs a couple files from a top his desk and then joins the rest of them. He hands one file to Smoker. “I am officially opening an investigation into Fisher and Arlong Tiger and their fishing company.” 

“On what grounds?” Shanks asks. 

His dad sighs. “An eyewitness testimony has seen Arlong conversing with Perospero Charlotte.” Koala, Sabo’s brain supplies. 

“About what exactly?” Smoker asked. 

“No idea. They didn’t say.” 

A round of acknowledging hums. 

“In addition to that. A one Shamrock Figarland-Red.” 

Shanks groans.  

“Recently threatened their daughter, Koala Tiger.” And that’s why Coby is here apparently. He was able to deliver Sabo’s message. 

**************************************** 

“So, why couldn’t we meet at any other place?” 

They’re currently using Annabelle’s office in her bar of all places. He asked her for a favor, and she quickly agreed when he told her who he was meeting. Though Sabo’s thinks she assumes it’s because of Luffy. Unfortunately, she’s wrong. 

Sabo sighs. “Because I can’t take the chance that this information could get leaked.” 

Coby quirks a brow. “By whom exactly?” 

“Not important. Listen I just need you to deliver a message to my dad.” 

Coby frowns. “And you can’t do it because?” 

Sabo frowns. “You ever heard of a man named Shamrock Figerland-Red?” 

Coby scrunches his face in thought. “No, doesn’t ring a bell.” 

“He’s wanted in like fifteen countries, but he has a lot of aliases.” 

Coby hums. “Okay?” 

“Well, he’s my uncle, and he was in my house two nights ago.” 

“Uh huh, where is this going Sabo?” Sabo has a sneaking suspicion that Coby also thought they were meeting for a completely different reason than what he needs to ask. 

“He threatened my girlfriend, but he also threatened me if I spoke to dad about our conversation. I have a bad feeling that he has eyes and ears on the inside of the department, so I couldn’t tell dad without the possibility that Uncle Sham is listening in. I can’t have her get hurt.” 

Coby sighs. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.” 

Sabo nods. “Thanks.” 

“Yeah, look, I’m only doing this cause well, I’m a cop, and in no way do you deserve any favors from me.” 

Fair. 

**************************************** 

“Why can I never escape that man?” Shanks brings Sabo back to the present. 

His dad frowns. 

“Wait, Red, as in?” Smoker looks at Shanks. 

Shanks nods. “My older brother, by five minutes. Technically, I’m a Figarland too, but I dropped that name a long time ago.” 

“Anyway.” His dad interrupts. “I believe he’s trying to take control over the Charlotte Family and their operations.” 

“Of fucking course, he is.” Shanks is clearly annoyed with this development, and possibly his older brother. Probably both.  

 “There also seems to be the possibility that Doflamingo wasn’t the only one who had cops in his pockets.” 

“What do you mean?” Smoker asks. 

“He said if I talked, he’d know.” Sabo finally speaks up. 

All eyes are on him now. 

“You, talked to him?”  

Sabo nods. “He came to my home the other day. Wants me to get leverage to use against the Tigers or he uses Koala instead.” 

Everyone frowns.  

“And that’s why Koala is going into protective custody.” His dad says. 

“Won’t he know something is up when she just suddenly disappears?” Wait. “You already planned for her to go into protective custody? Before I even asked for your help?” 

His dad grins. “I’ve been a cop longer than you've been alive son, I know how to plan for every scenario.” 

Okay, fair point. 

“So, she’ll be where exactly?” His uncle asks. 

“That’s classified.” His dad says. 

Of course it is. 

“Look, I know none of this is ideal, and it’s complicated due to his family status, but now that he’s apparently moving into my city, I now have jurisdiction to arrest the bastard. This is my city and like family, no one messes with my city.” His dad looks at him. “Or my family.” 

Sabo cracks a small smile.  

“So.” His dad leans forward in his seat. “Here’s the plan.” 

Since Sabo isn’t even allowed to know where Koala is he walks into an empty house. Well, he thought it was empty. The smell of smoke immediately assaulting his nostrils. 

Uncle freaking Sham.  

Sabo sighs and walks further into the house. 

“How was your meeting with your dad?” 

Sabo frowns. “Fine.” 

His uncle hums.  

Sabo walks over to his couch and hands his uncle the file. “What you wanted.” 

His uncle takes another drag of his cigarette and takes the file. He blows out the smoke. “I’m not an idiot Sabo.” He gives the file back. 

Sabo frowns. “What do you mean?” 

“What exactly was your meeting about Sabo?” 

Sabo sighs. “You.” 

“Uh huh, so I’m not falling for whatever clever trap your dad has up his sleeve. Try again. The real leverage.” 

Sabo frowns. “Arlong has a sealed Juvie record, but I can’t tell you what’s in it cause I don’t have a high enough clearance to open it.” 

His uncle hums. “It’s a start.” 

“Are we done?” 

His uncle chuckles. “Aww, are we mad cause daddy sent away your girlfriend for no reason?” His uncle stands and then leans down to whisper in his ear. “Don’t worry kid, she’s safe.” He taps Sabo’s cheek and then stands straight. “For now.” He buttons his jacket and turns to leave.  

Sabo sighs.  

He waves a hand over his shoulder as he walks towards the door. “Til next time kid.” 

Again, he asks. What the hell is his life right now? 

Chapter Text

“Ugh Papa, it’s not fair!” 

Arlong rolls his eyes. He and Fisher fought so hard for her, but now the teenage years are making him almost regret it. “K, you’re thirteen, not everything is fair. Now, upstairs and get ready for bed.” 

She growls and stomps upstairs.  

He rolls his eyes again. 

“Uh oh.”  

Arlong looks over at his husband as he enters the house. 

“What’s she mad about now?” 

Arlong sighs. “She wants to go to the movies on Saturday.” 

His husband frowns. “Okay?” 

Arlong smirks. “With a boy.” 

His husband growls. “Hell no.” 

“That’s what I said.” 

“Who exactly?” 

Arlong shrugs. “Some boy from her class.” 

Fisher sighs.  

“I honestly didn’t ask.” 

Fisher snorts.  

********************************************  

Arlong was straightening his tie and double-checking himself. He was honestly surprised that they got the invitation to begin with but if Koala is serios about this kid, tonight might be the nightmare they both feared. 

Fisher growls and Arlong turns to look at him with concern.  “What’s wrong?” 

“Our daughter, that’s what. How long is this supposed work trip, and why the hell is her phone off?” 

Arlong sighs. “I wish I had an answer for you babe, I do, but if she’s with her coworkers she’s fine.” 

His husband sighs. “I know you’re right, but I don’t know, something just seems off to me.” 

He smiles and approaches Fisher. He reches up and adjusts Fisher’s tie. “Let’s just get through this dinner then maybe tomorrow we can stop by her work and see if anyone has heard from her. Just to put your mind at ease.” 

“How in the hell are you so damn calm right now?” 

He smiles at his husband. “I’m not calm. We haven’t heard from our daughter in almost a week.” He’s got another shipment pick up tomorrow night. “And I’m pretty sure her boyfriend is about to ask us to propose.” 

Fisher groans. “You really think so?” 

Arlong nods. “He invited us to dinner, just him and us.” 

“Right.” 

“What are we gonna say?” 

“Absolutely the hell not.” 

Arlong chuckles. “I thought you liked the kid?” 

Fisher sighs. “I do, I just.” He groans. “I don’t know babe, I don’t have a reasonable explanation other than she’s our little girl, no matter how old she gets.” 

“I know babe.” 

“You’re the one that had a bad feeling about him. What do you think?” 

Arlong smiles. “I think we should at least hear him out.” 

Fisher smiles and leans in for a kiss. “Okay then, we ready?” 

Arlong hums. “Yeah, no idea why we agreed to meet him out in the middle of nowhere.” 

“No idea, but we did, so, let’s go.” 

The moment they pull into the driveway, Arlong immediately knows something is off by the two people standing in the driveway.  

“Do they look familiar to you?” 

Arlong sighs. “Yeah, they’re the Commissioners bodyguards.” 

“Oh, guess we’re not eating alone with Sabo after all.” 

Damn it, this is a trap, but he can’t tell his husband that. Fisher has no clue about what goes on once a week in the cover of the night. At least Arlong thinks he has no clue. 

“Maybe he wants to include his dad.” 

Fisher parks the truck and they hop out. 

“Sorry to do this.” The male says. “But for the Commissioners safety, we’ll have to pat you down.” 

Of course they do.  

“No problem.” His husband agrees way too fast for Arlongs liking, but what can they do? Say no? 

Inside Arlong moans at the smell. Someone is a damn good cook.  

“Welcome.” Dragon says as he reaches out to shake each of their hands. 

“Thanks, we were under the impression we were only meeting Sabo.” 

“Yeah, sorry about that, can’t be too careful.” 

Oh yeah, something is off.  

“Sabo wanted us to meet, and we figured we’d get less attention here.” 

“You have a beautiful home.” Arlong compliments as they walk further inside. 

“Thanks, Rouge did most of the decorating.” 

“Yes, very sorry for your loss by the way.” 

Dragon hums. “Thanks.” 

“So, where is Sabo?” Fisher asks. 

“On his way.” 

“Please have a seat, can I offer you some drinks? I’ve got beer, scotch water or tea.” 

“Tea is fine.” Fisher says. 

“I’ll have a beer.” 

Dragon hums, nods, and heads to the kitchen. 

Arlong takes a seat on the sofa, then he’s joined by his husband, who puts an arm around him. 

“So, we were set up.” His husband has deduced. 

Arlong chuckles. “Yeah, agreed.” 

“But why?” 

Unfortunately, Arlong might have an idea. 

Just then the front door swings open again, and a few seconds later Sabo comes into view. 

“Dad, I’m here.” 

“Great, let me finish getting their drinks then we can eat.” Oh, good God, they’re in for one hell of a dinner.  

Dinner actually ends up being pleasant. Sabo and his father end up being pleasant company. However, Arlong still thinks they’re both up to something. 

“I guess I didn’t realize that you were a blended family.” Fisher says.  

Dragon hums and nods as he swallows his beer. “We don’t announce it cause well, fuck DNA, those are my kids.” 

Sabo smiles as he shakes his head. “You’re taking way too much advantage of the fact that mom can’t correct you.” 

Dragon rolls his eyes.  

“I’m sorry?” 

“Rouge never allowed me to cuss, like ever.” 

“Ah.” 

“He did it in front of us once, and mom made him eat soap and made us watch to teach us all a lesson.” 

Dragon shivers.  

He and his husband laughed.  

“I’ve been blown up, but that was the most scared I’ve ever been.” 

Another round of laughs.  

“Oh, it scared us too, so we only cursed behind y'all's backs.” 

“I’m sure.” 

“Well, we appreciate the invite, it was very nice to finally meet you face to face.” Fisher says. “Honestly, we we’re a little fearful coming here tonight.” 

Dragon frowns. “Oh, why so?” 

“We thought Sabo was going to ask us to propose.” 

Sabo chokes on his drink. 

Dragon chuckles. “While I know how crazy Sabo is about her.” Sabo blushes. “We actually invited you for more pressing matters.” 

Arlong frowns.  

“What do you mean?” Fisher asks.  

Dragon looks pointed at Arlong. “I think your husband has an idea.” 

Damn it all. 

“Babe, what’s he talking about?” 

Arlong is too scared to look his husband in the eyes. 

“Ever heard of the Charlotte family Mr. Tiger?” 

“No.” Fisher says. 

“I think he’d rather hear this from you.” Dragon tells Arlong. 

“What the hell is going on Arlong?” 

He sighs. “They’ve been using our company to ship goods.” 

“Okay, what’s so wrong with that? We run a shipping company alongside the fishing company.” 

“The Charlotte family doesn’t deal is any normal goods, let alone legal.” 

“Arlong, babe, what the hell did you do?” 

He sighs. He finally looks at his husband. “I made a deal. They threatened you and Koala, said if I didn’t let them pass product through our containers they’d kill you.” 

His husband growls. 

“Plus, they offered protection from the pirates that were attacking ships and ports lately.” 

Fisher sighs. “Why didn’t you come to me babe?” 

“That was part of the deal; no one was supposed to know. Not you.” Arlong looks at Dragon. “And most definitely not the cops.” 

Dragon hums and nods. “Unfortunately, there’s more.” 

Arlong frowns. “More what?” 

“Ever seen this man?” Dragon hands over a sketch. 

“Yes.” He and his husband both say. 

“Isn’t that the Chief Justice?” 

Dragon snorts. “No, meet Shamrock Figarland-Red, the current Chief Justice’s twin brother.” 

That makes sense, he guesses. “Ahhh, I thought he was just corrupt.” 

Dragon snorts again. “Oh, Sham is corrupt alright, but Shanks, no he’s good. He’s gonna hate being mistaken for Sham, but I’m gonna tell him anyway.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes at his dad’s amusement in this situation. 

“Anyway, we believe he’s currently trying to take over the Charlotte family, and he recently threatened your daughter's life.” 

Arlong pales. “What?” 

“He came to my house.” Sabo speaks up, and he and Fisher look at him. “Said if I didn’t find usable leverage against you, that he’d use Koala instead.” 

“Now, her dating Sabo worked in her favor.” 

“What do you mean?” Fisher asks. 

Dragon sighs. “As corrupt as Sham is, he doesn’t go after family, protects them even.” 

“But Koala’s not his family.” 

“But he is my brother-in-law, and my kids’ uncle.” 

Well, that was unexpected. 

“So, hurting Koala, would in turn hurt Sabo, and Sham wasn’t going to let that happen, unless he had no other choice.” 

“Our daughter isn’t on a business trip, is she?” Fisher asks. 

Dragon shakes his head. “No. She’s currently in protective custody in a secure unknown location.” He leans forward. “Look, here’s what’s about to happen. Either Bo and Tashigi come through that door and arrest you right now for the distribution of drugs.” 

Arlong frowns. 

Dragon leans back. “Or you get on board with our little trap we have set and well, we still arrest you, but you get a few years taken off your sentence.” 

Damn it all to hell. He’s so screwed. 

“How much time is he looking at?” His husband asks. 

Dragon shrugs. “That depends on his cooperation.” 

“But he was threatened, shouldn’t that count for something?” 

Dragon shrugs. “That depends on how good his lawyer is.” 

Arlong looks at his husband.  

“And if you run.” 

He looks back at Dragon.  

“When I catch you, and I will catch you, I’ll add an extra twenty.” 

He’s a dead man. 

“He won’t run.” 

Arlong sighs. “Fine, what do I need to do?” 

Dragon smiles. “So glad you made the right decision Mr. Tiger.” 

Like he has any other choice.  

The whole way home he could feel the tension getting thicker and thicker. His husband hasn’t said a word to Arlong, or at all, the entire drive. Once home, they silently climb out of the truck; his husband did at least still open the door for him, and then together they head inside and upstairs. They remove their suites in silence, they freshen up for bed in silence, they even climb into bed silent. His husband doesn’t kiss him goodnight for the first time in twenty years. Just lays on his side, back to Arlong.  

Arlong frowns. “Babe, I’m sorry.” 

“Sorry.” His husband growls and sits up and turns on him. “Sorry doesn’t even begin to fix things Arlong, you screwed up bad, and now I’m about to spend twenty to thirty years without my husband, and Koala without her father. How could you be so stupid babe?” 

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I just wanted to protect you and Koala.” 

“Yeah, well now you could be the reason she’s hurt.” 

Arlong frowns.  

“I love you, so damn much, but this is the stupidest fucking thing you’ve ever done.” His husband turns away from him again and lays back down. 

Arlong sighs. He reaches over and turns off the lamp and lies down himself. He stares at the ceiling. His husband is right, he screwed up, but he just wanted to protect them and provide for them.

"Are you going to divorce me?"

His husband sighs. "No."

Arlong hums. "Well, since it might be a while before we can again, want to fuck?"

His husband snorts. "I'm pissed off at you, what do you think?"

Arlong sighs. Right. He's not getting any for a very long time. 

Chapter Text

Sabo was cooking dinner for him and his siblings slash roommates when he heard the front door open and close.  

“Ann? Ace?” 

“Just me, Ace stayed back, had a question for the professor.” 

Sabo snorts and turns to look at Ann. He smirks. “You mean he’s flirting with the professor.” 

Ann laughs. “Yeah, he thinks he’s being discreet, but he’s not.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Yeah, it’s way obvious he’s flirting with the poor guy.” 

“Yeah, and Ace can be relentless sometimes.” 

Sabo chuckles again. 

“Hey, so, listen.” 

Uh oh. He doesn’t like that tone. 

“There’s this girl...” 

Damn it, he knew it. 

“Carina, she’s in Professor Tesoro’s Finance class.” 

“No.” Sabo shuts that down immediately. 

“Come on Sabo, it wouldn’t hurt to just say hi. She just wants an introduction.” 

Sabo looks at his sister and quirks a brow. “For what?” 

“Well duh, she likes you.” 

Sabo sighs and goes back to his cooking. “I don’t know Ann, relationships aren’t really my thing.” 

“You don’t have to go out with her. Say hey, talk, get to know each other and just see where it goes, even if it’s nowhere.” 

She’s not going to let this go, is she? Another sigh. “Fine, introduce me.” 

His sister squeals.  

“But only to say hi.” 

Annabelle nods with a big grin on her face. 

****************************************  

Sabo has been hating life without Koala. If he ever needed confirmation that Koala was the one, this would be it. He comes home to an empty house, and he absolutely hates it. He doesn’t get any more goodnight texts or calls, and he hates it. She isn’t telling him how many kids and pets she wants, and he hates it. She’s not lying next to him at night and he hates it. He hates everything about this whole damn situation.  

Sabo sighs as he locks his house and walks across the street to his brother's house. He walks up the small ramp and knocks instead of ringing the bell just in case the kids are in bed. 

Except Spade starts barking, so he may have woken them anyway. 

“Down Spade.” He hears his brother say before the door swings open. Ace frowns at him as he holds the dog back. “Sabo?” 

“Your couch available?” 

Ace eyes the bag hanging on Sabo’s shoulder and the pillow in his arms, then nods. “What, Koala kick you out?” He steps aside and lets Sabo in. Shutting the door behind him and then letting Spade go, who immediately gets into Sabo’s space.  

Sabo sighs. “No, she’s not there and the house is too empty without her, I can’t sleep.” 

“Oh, well, stay as long as you like I guess.” 

Sabo nods. “Carrot won’t mind?” 

“Well, Marco’s not home yet, so you can share with me if you want.” 

Sabo hums. He walks over and plops down on the couch. Loving on Spade as he begs for attention. 

“You want to talk about it?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “No.” Not like he can tell his brother the truth anyway. That his girlfriend is in protective custody because their uncle threatened her. “Kids in bed?” 

Ace hums. “Yeah, do you uh, want something to eat? Coffee maybe?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “I’m good, thanks.” 

“Hey Ace I... Oh Sabo.” Carrot emerges from the kid's area, in a towel of all things.  

Sabo stands from the couch. He nods to her. “I’m gonna call it a night.” 

Ace nods. “Sure, you can sleep on the side closest to the window.” 

Sabo nods and heads there. He hears the reason Carrot came out in a towel. 

“Sorry um, there’s a spider in the shower. Could you um...?” 

Ace snorts. “Yeah.”  

Sabo woke to the sounds of a baby crying. He groans. 

“Sorry.” Ace mumbles. 

Sabo hums. “It’s better than your and Marco’s sex noises.” 

Ace snorts.  

Sabo rolls over to see his brother getting out of bed. “Need help?” 

Ace shakes his head. “I got him.” Ace turns to look at him and grins. “You get some sleep dear.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes.  

Ace chuckles and heads out to tend to his son.  

Sabo lays there and tries to fall back asleep. That is until his brothers voice comes through the baby monitor.  

“Sabo, I need you after all.” 

Sabo chuckles and rolls out of bed. He makes his way to his nephews room. He gags when he enters. “The hell?” 

Ace chuckles. “Yeah, he had an accident and it’s everywhere. I have to quickly change all his cords and tubes without him breathing in his own shit.” 

Sabo snorts. “Oh god, I may change my mind about kids after this.” He walks over and starts to help his brother carefully remove the baby and his supplies from his crib.  

Ace chuckles. “Koala may have something to say about that.” 

Sabo chuckles. They quickly get Jonah’s cords and tubes changed as well as Jonah himself. With a fresh diaper and pajamas. Sabo holds him with Ace’s instructions while Ace changes his sheets and wipes down the crib.  

“Shit kid, how did you do all this damage?” 

Sabo chuckles.  

Once Ace is done Sabo gets a lesson on how to put a baby whose hooked up to oxygen tanks to bed.  

“What’s that weird sock on his foot?” 

“It monitors his vitals, and send alerts to my phone if something is wrong.” 

Sabo hums. “That’s cool.” 

Ace chuckles.  

After they get Jonah clean, fed and settled in bed again they head back to bed themselves. 

Ace sighs as he climbs back into his side of the bed. “Okay, night dear.” Ace leans over and kisses his cheek.  

Sabo smacks him away.  

Ace laughs.  

Surprisingly, he’s the first to wake. Or maybe not, Ace is a new parent so maybe he’s taking advantage of the fact that the kids are still asleep.  

Sabo’s in the kitchen preparing coffee. Carrot is still asleep on the couch so he tries to be as silent as possible. 

“Who are you?” 

Sabo jumps and turns to see Tama sitting at the island.  

“Sabo, Ace’s brother. Who are you?” 

She chuckles. “Tama, Ace is my daddy.” 

Sabo smiles at her. “Know what that means?” 

She shakes her head. “No what?” 

“That makes me your uncle.” 

Her eyes light up. “Cool!” 

Sabo chuckles. 

“You have tattoos like dad and daddy.” 

Sabo nods. “I do.” 

“They have more than you.” 

Sabo chuckles. “Yes they do.” 

“Daddy has that one too.” Tama points to the one on his arm. 

Sabo nods and turns to pour himself some coffee. “That one represents the four siblings.” 

“Four!” 

Sabo chuckles. “Yes, Ace and I have another brother and a sister.” 

“Tama Lee.” 

Sabo and Tama look over at Ace as he exits the main room. 

"Yes daddy?” 

“Did Uncle Sabo help you out of bed or did you walk on your casts again?” 

Tama frowns. “I walked.” 

Ace hums. “You’re supposed to stay off them.” 

“But it’s hard daddy.” 

Ace nods and walks to get himself some coffee. “I understand that, but the sooner you follow the rules, the sooner you heal and can get them off.” 

“Yes daddy.” 

Ace takes a sip of his coffee before he sets it down and heads to Jonah’s room.  

Sabo sees Carrot start to stir on the couch.  

“Can you make waffles like daddy does?” 

Sabo nods. “Sure. How does daddy make them?” 

After breakfast Carrot took Tama to her weekly chemo session and Sabo found himself on the floor with Jonah while Ace was working on some paper work for his shop at the table. Spade is lying at his feet.  

“Dada.” Jonah babbles as he shoves a teether in his mouth. Drool dripping down his chin. 

Sabo chuckles.  

“No work for you today?” Ace asks from the table. 

Sabo frowns. “No, just needed some me time, but then Koala left and well, I hated the quiet.” 

“Hey, so I’ve been meaning to ask, is her being gone have something to do with uncle Sham paying you a visit?” 

He should have known his brother would put two and two together. He helped Sabo with a semi-solution to reach out to their dad. “Yes, but I’m not really supposed to talk about it.” 

“Ohhh, super-secret cop stuff.” 

Sabo rolls his eyes.  

Jonah squeals before he launches his teether at Sabo. He starts flailing his arms and legs. “Dada!” Jonah manages to roll over, and Sabo makes sure to check and make sure his tubes aren’t being pinched. Jonah starts to use his arms to scoot across the floor towards his daddy. Or maybe his goal is the dog? 

Sabo remembers Ace mentioning that Spade is partially blind, but he perks up to Jonah’s movements right away. His head lifts and his ears perk. His tail begins to wag. Spade doesn’t let Jonah get very far before getting up and coming over to inspect what the little human is doing.  

Jonah squeals and Sabo know he’s not happy with the canine being in his space.  

“Spade, down.” 

Spade whines and walks back over to be with Ace.  

“You two got acquainted pretty fast huh?” 

Ace hums. “The nice thing about a service dog is that they’re pretty much already trained. He just had to get used to my cues. He’s also very obedient. Unlike training a new puppy.” 

Sabo nods. He has to stop Jonah from going very far because he started pulling on his tubes.  

Jonah, of course, voiced his complaints. “Dada!” 

Ace chuckles and stands and walks over to them. “I guess dada can take a break.” 

As the day went on, Sabo realized that despite Jonah’s literal shit show last night, he wants what Ace and Marco have, but with Koala, obviously. He wants to have the pure joy he saw in his brother as he interacted with his kids. He’s seen it on Annabelle too, maybe on Zoro and Law as well, but honestly, he doesn’t really pay attention to his sister’s partners. He hasn’t seen Luffy interreact with his son since he was just born and well Sabo hasn’t forgiven him, and he doesn’t know if he ever will.  

Dinner came and Sabo watched on curiously as Jonah ate.  “How much longer will he be on oxygen?” 

Ace sighs. “Hopefully not much longer. He goes in for tests regularly. His next one is next week actually.” 

“Does he have a special diet?” 

“No, just have to be extra cautious with how fast he eats and how big the pieces or bites are.” Carrot explains. 

Sabo hums and nods. 

“Are you married?” Tama suddenly asks. 

The three adults' chuckle.  

“Um, no, but I want to be, someday.” 

“Do you have a boyfriend?” 

“Tama.” Ace warns. 

Sabo chuckles. “It’s fine Ace, uh no, I have a girlfriend.” 

“Are you gonna marry her?” 

“Tama, enough.” 

Sabo chuckles again. “I really don’t mind Ace, she can ask away.” He looks at Tama. “I plan to one day.” 

“Why not today?” 

“She’s away, spending time with friends.” 

“Okay!” 

Sabo chuckles.  

“Daddy? Can uncle Sabo tuck me in tonight?” 

Ace hums. “That’s up to Uncle Sabo.”  

Sabo smiles. “I don’t mind.” 

“Yay!” 

“Okay, now, finish eating please.” 

“Yes daddy.” 

After the kids were in bed, Sabo stayed up with his brother for a while just hanging out and talking. Sabo was about to hit his head on the pillow himself when his phone rang. 

“Dad?” 

“Hey son, we have a problem.” 

Sabo sighs. “Koala okay?” 

“She’s fine kid, but we hit a small snag in our plan.” 

He frowns. “What snag?” 

“I underestimated Sham, he was onto us.” 

Damn it. He sighs again. “Okay, I’m on the way.” 

“Meet me at the twenty-first.” 

Sabo scrunches his face. “Not your office? Why?” 

His dad sighs. “You’ll see when you get there.” 

Sabo nods. “Yes sir.” He begins to dress. 

At the precinct, he arrived before his dad and had to wait for him. When his dad arrived, he followed him to the back where they were let in a room. On the other side of the glass is Arlong, Koalas dad, and a detective Sabo doesn’t recognize.” 

“He got arrested? Why?” 

“Someone apparently sent in an anonymous tip and Fullbody here jumped at the opportunity to get promoted for one of the biggest drug busts in history.” 

Sabo’s eyes widen and he looks at his dad. “How? It was supposed to be a secret?” 

His dad sighs. “Sham, I’m guessing. Looks like we were right and he’s got someone or someone's on the inside.” 

“The problem is that Fullbody jumped the gun and only Arlong and his men were present, so Sham and the Charlotte family are still free.” Smoker explains. “There’s no paper trail that leads to them; we needed this bust and he got to us first.” 

“I already explained myself!” Arlong shouts. “I was working with Detective Smoker and the Commissioner to bring down the Charlotte family.” 

Fullbody scoffs. “You're a no-named fisherman who was caught dealing drugs, you’re going to jail. Making up stories isn’t going to help you.” 

Sabo’s dad sighs again. “Guess I better get in there.” 

His dad leaves the room and walks over to the other room and swings the door open.  

Fullbody goes to yell at the person until he realizes who it is. He stands at attention. “Commissioner sir.” 

“I got this detective.” 

Fullbody frowns. “You sure sir?” 

His dad nods. “I’m sure.”  

Fullbody looks as if he wants to argue, but doesn’t. He nods and leaves the room. 

His dad looks at the glass. “Smoker, cut the feed and you and Sabo get in here.” 

Smoker and Sabo obey the Commissioners' orders. Someone brings in an extra chair. 

“What happened?” 

“I don’t know.” Arlong cries. “I got the shipment ready like normal. We parked the truck in the usual spot and were ready to go at the usual time, but Sham nor his men showed. I was about to call it, but Smoker told me to hold for a little bit longer.” 

His dad looks at Smoker who nods to confirm Arlong's story.  

“That’s when that man and his officers showed up and they arrested me and my men and took possession of the truck.” 

His dad sighs again.  

“I didn’t tell anyone, I swear, and neither did Fish.” 

“Smoker.” His dad says. “Get his husband down here.” 

Smoker nods and stands. “You got it.” 

“Is Koala okay?”  

His dad nodded. “She’s fine. I called to make sure as soon as I heard you were in custody.” 

Arlong sighs. “Thank you.” 

“What are we gonna do dad?” 

His dad sighs. “I don’t know son.” 

“What about my phone?” 

His dad looks at Arlong. “What phone?” 

Smoker re-enters the room. 

“I had a burner that was used to communicate with whoever was picking up the shipment that week. They sent me a new one every couple weeks. I guess as a way of not getting traced. It was in my pocket when they arrested me.” 

“There was no phone in evidence.” Smoker points out. 

“What? No, that can’t be right; I swear it was in my pocket. They required me to have it on me at all times.” 

His dad groans. “Whomever is in Shams pocket was there. They had to have been.” 

“They got the phone before we could.” Smoker points out. 

“Yeah, and now the only case we have is against the Tiger's.” His dad finishes.  

Well, shit. 

Chapter Text

Arlong, with a grin on his face, watched as his daughter walked across the stage to accept her diploma. Their baby, the Valedictorian. He’s gushing with pride. 

Fisher is sitting next to him recording on his camera. “I should have brought more tissues.” 

Arlong chuckles. He reaches into one of his many tissues stuffed pockets and hands some over to his husband.  

“Thank you.” 

He chuckles again. He leans in to kiss Fishers cheek. “Big tough sailor crying.” 

His husband rolls his eyes. “I’m comfortable in my masculinity enough to know it’s okay to cry and be proud of my daughter.” 

Arlong smiles and gives him another kiss. “I know.” 

After the ceremony Koala runs to them and gives them a hug. 

“We’re so proud of you baby.” 

Koala chuckles. “It’s just high school daddy; I still have to get through college.” 

“College? I thought we agreed that you’d come work for us?” 

Koala frowns. “No, you agreed, I want to go to college, become a meteorologist.” 

“Baby girl,...” 

“Maybe.” Arlong interrupts his husband before he says something to either make a scene or that he’s going to regret. “We should just enjoy the day and finish this conversation later.” 

Fisher sighs. “You’re right. Where we going for lunch to celebrate?” 

****************************************   

Ever since their dinner with Sabo and the Commissioner, Fisher has barely said a word to him. Has barely looked at him. He ignores him at work unless it’s important, and they take separate cars daily now instead of just on Friday’s. Even after work Fisher locks himself in his office until dinner, then they eat in silence until bed, which they also done in silence now. 

It’s Friday morning and Arlong decides that, regardless of the fact that he screwed up, and that he planned for his husband to never find out, he can’t take the silence anymore. He misses his husband. 

Arlong sighs and sets down his coffee. “So...” 

“No.” Apparently his husband has other plans.  

“Fish, please.” Arlong begs.

Fisher slams down his paper. “I don’t know what you want me to say Arlong? My husband of almost thirty years has been hiding the fact that he’s distributing drugs. Something we always agreed never to touch, something we tried to keep our daughter from! Turns out, it was all a lie. What, is our marriage a lie too?” 

Arlong frowns.  

“Do you not really love me? We’re you using me and Koala as a cover?” 

“You know that’s not true.” He reaches out to his husband, but Fisher flinches away. Arlong frowns and retracts his hand. “I love you so much, and Koala, how could you even think that?” 

“I never in a million years thought my husband would be involved with criminals and drugs, so excuse me while I try and figure out what part of our marriage and life isn’t a complete sham.” Fisher stomps his way right out the front door. 

Arlong sighs. Guess he deserved that finger. 

Work went on as usual. He tried to talk to his husband again, but Fisher continued to ignore him, or cut their work talk as short as possible.  

He was sitting at his desk when the door opened.  

“Delivery sir.” Kuroobi says. 

Arlong frowns and looks up to see a kid he’s never seen. “You’re new.” He takes the package.  

The kid hums. “Delivery from our mutual friend.” Ah, this is the officer that Dragon said was gonna get him some things for tonight. Cody something, Arlong honestly doesn’t remember. 

He hums and signs for the package, and the kid takes his leave. 

Arlong quickly opens the box and inside is a com and a note. 

Have this on, I’ll be with you the whole time. Trust me. -S 

Arlong sighs. He just sets them in his drawer for later and gets back to work.  

As the hours tick by, he tries and still fails to talk to his husband.  

“Everything alright between you and the boss sir?”  

Arlong sighs. “Yeah, just a small disagreement.” 

“He knows, doesn’t he?” 

Arlong sighs again. “Yeah.” 

“Oh.” 

He sighs again. “Let’s just get this over with.” He stands from his desk and heads outside. He and his men get the delivery ready as usual, but this time they use the truck that Dragon provided. It was ticked out to look like one of their company trucks, but he’s sure they put some kind of tracking device somewhere in it. 

Arlong puts the com in his ear while they wait for Sham and his men. He’s sure Smoker and his men are in position as well. 

‘If you can hear me, crack your neck like you’re stretching after a long day.’ Smoker says in his ear. 

Arlong obeys.  

‘Great, just stay calm, act like nothing is wrong, and this will be over before you know it.’ 

Time ticket on, and on, and on and on, and still no sign of Sham or the Charlotte family. 

“Maybe they’re just running a little late.” One of his workers suggests.  

“No.” Arlong says. “Something feels off.” 

‘Let’s just give it a little while longer.’ Smoker once again. 

Arlong nods.  

Whoop Whoop 

Suddenly, like in a flash they’re surrounded by Swat and Police Vehicles and cops themselves. Guns all pointed at them. 

The hell? 

“Police Department! Everyone on the ground now!” 

‘What the hell!?’ Smoker Shouts. 

“This wasn’t part of the plan!” 

“I’m sure it wasn’t dirtbag.” The guy says as he puts a knee in Arlong’s back and cuffs him. 

“Where’s Smoker? He’s supposed to be in charge.” 

The guy scoffs. “Smokers in your pocket, is he? I knew that guy was no good.” The guy begins to pat him down. He removes everything from his pockets and the com in his ear. “Is this Smoker now?” The guy laughs as he throws the com on the ground and smashes it under his foot. 

“No, you don’t understand!” 

Suddenly the guy is clocking him. “Just quit it already, you’re done for and so is this little side business you got going on.” 

They throw him in a cell as soon as they get to the precinct and then begin to process him and his crew. Smoker is loosing his Shit on the guy that arrested him. He can see them through the glass doors but he can't hear them. 

“Just stay silent until I can figure this out, I was promised no one would get jail time but me.” Arlong whispers to his men. 

They nod. “Yes boss.” 

“Mr. Tiger, you’re with me.” 

Arlong looks up at the guy who cuffed him. He nods, stands and follows the guy to the interrogation room. He can already tell this guy isn’t going to believe a word that’s about to come out of his mouth. He’s already decided that Arlong is guilty, which he is, but he ruined a set up, and that he won’t believe. 

After his talk with the Commissioner, they got someone to finally uncuff him, but he had to stay in the interrogation room while they figure out what happened. 

“Arlong!” 

Arlong looks up at his husband as he enters the room.  

Fisher cups his cheek and Arlong flinches at the touch. His face still hurts after getting punched. “You okay?” 

Arlong smiles. “I’m fine.” 

Fisher brings him in for an embrace, and Arlong gladly wraps his arms around his husband. After a beat Fisher let's him go. He looks at the Commissioner. “What now?” 

Dragon sighs. “We figure out how Sham beat us to the punch.” 

“Can he still come home tonight?” 

Dragon nods. “I’ll have Smoker process him out, but remember...” 

Arlong nods. “Ten tomorrow.” 

Another nod from the Commissioner. “I’m sorry, but even though the plan didn’t go as well, planned, a deal is still a deal. I still have to arrest you.” 

Arlong nods. “I know, I just want one more night with my husband.” 

“Just remember...” 

“I run; you’ll find me.” 

Dragon chuckles. “Exactly.” 

After Smoker gets him processed out, he rides home with his husband. A ride that’s very silent. Deja Vu after last week. His own personal ground hog day, or night. His husband parks the truck in the garage and they head upstairs.  

He starts to undress. 

“I’m still mad at you for lying to me.” 

Arlong hums and nods.  

Fisher comes over and stands in front of him. He takes Arlong’s hands in his. Then he finally looks Arlong in the eyes. “I’m sorry for what I said this morning, I know you love us, I’m just so mad babe.” 

“I know that, and I’m sorry I put you two in this position.” 

“I’m still mad.” 

Arlong chuckles. “You’ve said that.” 

“But, since I’m about to lose you for a while.” Fisher lunges forward and captures Arlong’s lips. Arlong moans into the kiss. He missed this so damn much. So, what if it’s only been a week? That’s a long damn time to go without a kiss from his husband. 

Fisher pushes him down into the mattress and climbs on top of him. Hell, tonight is about to be amazing. 

Sham is woken up by the sound of knocks on his door. 

“This better be damn important.” He says as someone enters his room. He hasn’t opened his eyes yet, so he doesn’t know who. 

“Sorry to interrupt boss.” Ah Beve. “But you wanted to know when our little problem was taken care of.”  

Sham hums. The bodies on either side of him groan as they adjust in their sleep. 

“Also.” 

Hell. He peeks open his eyes. “Yes?” 

“We found the girl sir.” 

He shoots up out of bed. Ultimately waking his partners. “Why in the hell didn’t you lead with that?!” 

“Sorry boss, they’re getting the car ready for you now.” 

He hums as he dresses. He follows Beve out of the room.  

“Want them gone by time you get back?” 

Sham thinks about it for a moment. “No, they were pretty good, they can stay for an extra night.” 

Beve nods. “Yes sir.” 

He climbs into the back of the SUV. “Ask me again tomorrow though.” 

“Yes sir.” Beve shuts the door and then walks around and climbs in beside him. The driver takes off.  

It’s kind of disappointing that Dragon is a cop and now officially his enemy. One of the reasons he liked to work overseas so that he didn’t get his drop-dead gorgeous brother-in-law involved. He didn’t want to go against him. But now Dragon isn’t giving him a choice. He originally moved back because the Charlotte family was starting to get too big, out of hand, and he didn’t need them coming for his turf, so he had to move in and offer Linlin something she couldn’t resist, an alliance. However, whether she likes it or not, he’s in charge now, and to his dismay he has to do the one thing he always promised that he wouldn’t do. 

Hurt Family. 

Chapter Text

Dragon groans and rolls over to shut off his phone before it wakes his wife. He understands that being a detective means he has to be available whenever they need him, but these middle of the night phone calls are starting to get ridiculous. 

“Detective Monkey.” 

“Dad, it’s me.” 

Dragon shoots up in bed. “Everything okay son? You and your siblings alright?” 

Sabo sighs. “Yeah dad, we’re fine.” 

He sighs. 

“Sorry for the late call, I just really needed to talk to you.” 

He frowns. “That’s alright son, anytime remember? I’m your dad. What’s up?” 

“Dad, why am I different?” 

Dragon frowns again. “What do you mean son?” 

“Why don’t I care about dating like Ace and Annie do? I met someone and she’s a great girl, but I don’t know, I just can’t shake this feeling that somethings wrong with me.” 

“Son, there’s nothing to be ashamed of, so you stay single for a while. There’s nothing wrong with that. In my opinion your brother and sister are rushing things.” 

Sabo chuckles. 

Dragon cracks a small smile. “Maybe you just need to meet the right girl, or guy.” 

Sabo sighs. “I guess.” 

“It’ll happen son, in due time.” 

“How did you know with mom?” 

“Rouge?” 

“Yeah?” 

Dragon sighs. “I just knew son, I laid eyes on her and I just knew. It’s really hard to explain it better than that.” 

“Oh.” 

“Sorry, that doesn’t help, I know.” 

“It’s okay dad.” 

“Get some rest son, y’all still coming home this weekend?” 

“As far as I know.” 

Dragon hums. “I love ya kid and try not to stress about it too much.” 

“Okay dad, night.” 

“Night son.” 

Sabo hangs up.  

Dragon sighs and sets his phone down before laying back down.  

“Still questioning himself?” 

Dragon sighs and looks over at Rouge. “Yeah.” 

Rouge scoots over to lie on his chest. He wraps an arm around her. “He’ll get it honey.” 

“I know, it’s just hard for me not to worry about him.” 

“He’s been through so much ever since he was a baby, he’s your first child, you just want to protect him.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Trust me, one day he’s going to meet a great girl and they’re going to live happily ever after.” 

Dragon chuckles. “A girl huh?” 

She hums. “Trust me, I know my kids, and Sabo isn’t gay. I know he’s been questioning, but a mother knows.” 

Dragon hums.  

*********************************************  

Dragon groans as he rolls over, a sudden noise coming from downstairs. He lifts his head and looks at the door to see if he can hear it again. He’s really not too worried about it. T and Bo have access to the security system and are alerted if any of the monitors or sensors pick up movement.  

It's not Robin, she’s asleep next to him.  

His dad and Tsu aren’t supposed to return home until tomorrow. They took another trip. Both taking advantage of their retirement and new marriage. Trying to make the most of it since they’re both older. Dadan’s room is on the other side of the house, and she has her own little kitchenette, so she doesn’t need to come all the way over here for anything generally.  

He highly doubts that one of his kids has driven all the way out here in the middle of the night, so it’s not them.  

Damn it.  

Dragon sits up and swings his legs over the edge of the bed. He picks up his shirt and puts it on. That’s when he hears another noise.  

He's pretty sure it’s nothing, but he grabs his glock just in case.  

Dragon stands from the bed and makes his way downstairs. Halfway down, he realizes he smells coffee.  

The hell? 

Okay, someone is definitely here, but who would break into his house at two in the morning to make coffee? Tashigi? Bo? 

At the bottom of the stairs, he doesn’t see anything in the living room, so he rounds the staircase and heads towards the kitchen, gun drawn.  

In all honesty, the coffee smells divine, but he can’t drink it this late.  

He enters the kitchen. 

“Dragon.” 

He quickly points his gun at the intruder, ready to fire, until he realizes who it is.  

“Shit Sham, you scared the hell out of me.” He lowers his gun. “What the hell are you doing here?” 

Sham sighs as he sets his mug down. Sham uses his foot to push a chair out from tucked under the table. One of the very chairs he built with Rouge. “Have a seat Commissioner.” 

Dragon frowns. “You’re not here for a social visit, are you Sham?” 

Sham looks at him and Dragon knows. He goes to raise his gun again but then one is being shoved into his back.  

“I wouldn’t do that.” 

Shit, it seems Sham brought some company.  

Dragon growls but lowers his hands anyway. The gun is removed from his hand.  

“I believe the boss told you to have a seat.” 

Dragon clicks his tongue as he slowly walks over and has a seat next to Sham.  

“Bava, our guest please?” 

Another person appears behind Sham and Dragon curses himself for not realizing he was there. 

“Yes boss.” 

Dragon watches as the guy disappears out the sliding glass door, and he’s not gone long before he reappears with Koala. She’s clearly been crying, and she’s shaking, probably cold and scared out of her mind. Bava sits next to Sham and across from Dragon. 

Fucking damn it he found her.  

What the hell is happening right now? 

“What do you want Sham?” 

His brother-in-law puts his hand on the binder lying on the table in front of him and pushes it towards Dragon. “A gift. This is everything you need to take down Kaido, his business and his subordinates.” 

Dragon frowns. “Why in the hell would you give me this?” 

Sham grins. “For a favor of course.” 

Dragon snorts. He puts his hand on the binder and shoves it back. “Then no thanks.” 

Sham shoves it back. “You don’t have a choice dear brother.” Sham pulls out a tablet and turns it towards Dragon. On the screen is video of a room, a kid sleeping. “See this is live feed from the dorm room of one Anthony Cutty Flam, I believe you know his mother.” Suddenly two figures appear and forcibly take the sleeping person from their bed and drags them off screen.  

Dragon growls. Koala whimpers. Damn it, he needs to get it together.  

Sham smirks. “If you don’t do what I ask, in forty-eight hours my men are going to get permission to help the kid meet his maker.” 

“Why him?” 

Sham chuckles. “What kind of uncle do you think I am? I can’t threaten my own niece and nephews.” He smirks at Koala. “Or their partners.” 

Dragon clicks his tongue. “What do you want?” 

Sham looks back at him and smirks. “The release of one Katakuri Charlotte.” 

Dragon snorts again. “He’s in for attempted murder; I can’t just release him. On top of other things, he still has fifteen years left.” 

Sham shrugs. “You’re just going to have to figure it out dear brother.” 

“And if I don’t?” 

Another shrug from his brother-in-law. “Then you’ll have to explain to his mother why he’s in the morgue.” 

He growls again.  

“Darling?” 

Shit, Robin. 

Sham grins. “Well, well, well.” 

“Darling?” She sounds confused and terrified at the same time.  

Dragon sighs.  

“Mont?” 

He hears Robin squeak and Dragon's instinct is to turn around, and go to her, but the look on Shams face tells him not to move. So, he fights his instincts with every fiber of his being and stays put. He has too many assailants in his home, and he has absolutely no clue where his detail is. He’s unarmed and outnumbered.  

Damn it! All his years as a cop, how did he not realize something was wrong sooner? No alarms rang, either in his head or from his security system, so what the hell went wrong? 

“She’s out boss.” 

Dragon looks at Sham horrified. 

Sham rolls his eyes. “She’s alive, just taking a little nap.” 

Beve comes back and stands behind Koala. He taps her shoulder. She whimpers again. “Come on, up.” 

Koala hesitates. 

Sham looks at her. “I’d obey dear.” 

Koala looks at Dragon, pleading for help.  

“It’s alright.” Dragon looks at Sham. “Sham doesn’t hurt family. Right Sham?” 

Sham grins. “That’s right.” 

Koala sighs, but stands and follows Beve back outside. He’s cursing himself for being so damn helpless right now. 

Sham stands and buttons his blazer. “Forty-eight hours Dragon.” 

Then something is being jabbed in his neck, and suddenly his world goes black.  

“Dr...on!”  

His ears are ringing as he comes to, and there’s a sharp pain in his cheeks.  

“Son!” 

Dragon flutters his eyes open, and the blurry vision of his father greets him. He groans. “Dad?” 

“Son.” His dad helps him sit up. Apparently when they knocked him out, he fell to the floor. 

Dragon’s eyes shoot open. “Robin!” 

“She’s fine. Tsu is helping her, and paramedics are on their way. What the hell happened son?” 

Dragon groans. “Sham.” 

His dad growls.  

Dragon rolls his eyes. “Bo and T?” 

“Also pretty fucking out of it.” 

Dragon sighs. “Dadan?” 

“Seems they didn’t mess with her, she was passed out the entire time and had no fucking clue what went down out here.” 

Dragon hums. “Koala?” 

“Not here.” 

Fucking damn it! 

His dad helps him stand, and he’s assaulted by a body crashing into him. His dad keeps him from tumbling backwards and falling to the floor again. 

“Are you okay darling?” 

Dragon wraps his arms around her. “Yeah, you?” 

She looks up at him with worry. “Are you sure they didn’t hurt you?” She reaches up and touches his temple, and he flinches. She pulls her hand back and he’s apparently bleeding. 

He smiles and cups her cheeks. “I’m sure, just still a little out of it from whatever they injected us with.” 

She gives him a knowing look. 

“My guess is some kind of sedative.” 

Dragon looks up at Bo as he enters.  

“Paramedics are here boss.” A couple of people ran to him and Robin. They separate them and start to examine them. 

Dragon nods. “Bo, I can’t explain right now, but I need two uniforms in plain clothes on all my children and send two detectives, discreetly to Baltigo University, have them connect with Drake Diez. Have them tell him that Dragon Monkey sent them and that a student is presumed missing and currently in danger. But this must be kept quiet.” He’s sure Sham is watching, one way or another.  

“Okay, what student?” 

Dragon sighs and looks over at his girlfriend. 

“Dragon?” 

He frowns.  

She whimpers. “Anthony?” 

Dragon nods. He looks back at Bo. “Anthony Cutty Flam. He goes by Chopper.” 

Bo nods. “Yes boss.” 

“Also, get a discreet BOLO out for Koala Tiger.” 

Bo nods again. “Yes boss.” 

“What the hell is going on son?” 

He sighs. “Sham and his goons kidnapped them and said they’ll release them when I do him a favor.” 

Robin whimpers again. 

His dad frowns. “What favor exactly?” 

Dragon flinches as the paramedic treats the cut on his forehead. Apparently, he hit his head on the way down to the floor. “Arrange the release of a known gang member and attempted murderer.” He groans again. Whatever the hell they gave him is really fucking with his head. “Also, have CSU come over and print the place, there we’re at least two individuals here with Sham.” 

Bo nods. “Yes boss.” 

“Where’s Tashigi?” 

Bo frowns. “She had a reaction to the sedative; she’s on her way to the hospital.” 

Dragon frowns. “Okay, I’ll visit her when I can, I know she’s in capable hands. Right now, my priority is our children.” 

Bo nods. “Yes boss.” 

“Can you also get two uniforms in plain clothes out here to stay with Robin, Dad and Tsu.” 

Another no from Bo. “Yes boss.” 

“Do you have to go?” Robin wraps her arms around him. 

Dragon sighs and nods as he returns the embrace. “Yeah, I have to fix this.” 

She sighs. “Okay.” 

“Come upstairs with me for a bit?” 

She nods. “Yeah.” 

Dragon takes her hand and leads her upstairs. He shuts the door behind them and then wraps his arms around her. “I’m so sorry baby, this is all my fault.” 

“You’re going to save him, right.” 

Dragon nods. “Promise.” That goes against everything they teach you at the academy. You don’t make promises, but this is a promise he has to keep. If he doesn’t save Chopper, he could lose Robin forever. And he can’t lose her, not after just getting her. He tears up just thinking about it.  

“Then you have nothing to be sorry for. Anthony isn’t the only one that needs you, Koala does too. Do what you got to do to bring them home.” 

Dragon chuckles through his tears. “You got it baby.” 

Dragon walks into the jail and Saul meets him at the gate. 

“Dragon, gonna explain what the hell is going on?” 

He sighs. “You got the paperwork?” 

Saul nods and hands it over.  

Dragon looks it over and nods in approval. “It’s just like the paperwork says, he’s being released on good behavior.” 

“Except, he’s not, and you and I both know it.” 

Dragon sighs. “Got a room we can talk in private?” 

Saul frowns but nods. “Sure.” Saul leads Dragon to his office. 

In Sauls office Dragon explains the whole shitty situation, and why he’s being forced to release a criminal. 

"Shit Dragon. If it were anyone else, you wouldn’t let them give in so easily.” 

“You don’t think I know that? He threatened my family, and kidnapped two of my own, I have no other choice. Look, I have a plan, and if I’m correct, Charlotte will go along with it.” 

Saul quirks a brow. “What makes you so sure?” 

“The guy betrayed his mom and turned himself in. I highly doubt he wants back in the game.” 

Saul sighs. “I really hope you’re right about this Monkey.” 

Dragon sighs. “Me too.” 

Dragon meets Charlotte at processing. He’s already in plain clothes, but still in cuffs.  

Charlotte quirks a brow at him. “I’m assuming you have something to do with this arrangement?” 

Dragon hums.  

“He’s all yours Commissioner.” Jean says as he hands over Charlotte’s personnel items.  

Dragon nods. “Thanks Jean.” 

Charlotte still cuffed follows Dragon to the SUV. Bo immediately opens the door for him.  

“In.” Dragon orders.  

Charlotte grins. “Yes sir.” He gets in a scoots all the way over.  

Dragon rolls his eyes. “I’m going to hate every second of this.” 

Bo snorts. 

Dragon climbs in second. 

As soon as Bo closes the door, Charlotte speaks up. “So, what does my mom have on you?” 

Dragon snorts. “Nothing, it’s her new boss.” 

Charlotte scrunches his face in thought. “New boss?” 

Dragon nods and hands over a file. “Shamrock Figarland-Red, he’s taking over the Charlotte family. Know him?” 

Charlotte, with his still cuffed hands, takes the file, opens it and begins to look it over. “No, wait, I know him from somewhere, isn’t he a lawyer?” 

Dragon snorts. Shanks was right, he can’t get out of Shams shadow. “No, that happens to be his twin brother.” 

Charlotte hums as he hands the file back. “So, what exactly does he want from me?” 

Dragon shrugs. “Other than you released, he didn’t say.” 

“Hmm.” 

Dragon sighs. “Look, you don’t owe me anything, and I know you turned yourself in, but I could use an inside person.” 

Charlotte snorts. “If this guy is as good as you say, he’s gonna see that coming a million miles away.” 

Dragon nods. “I’m aware, which is why I have an ace up my sleeve that I’m not even saying to you. No wires, nothing traceable. I just need my stepson and daughter-in-law home safe.” 

Charlotte hums again.  

Dragon’s phone rings and he pulls it out of his pocket. 

Blocked 

Dragon rolls his eyes. Sham his mind supplies.  

“Yes dear.” He mocks.  

Sham chuckles and unfortunately it does things for Dragon. Why the hell does his body automatically react to this man? “Awww, the cutie upset?” 

Dragon rolls his eyes. “I got what you wanted.” 

“I never doubted you for a second baby, Bava is going to text you an address. Drop my boy off there, and Dragon baby, if you try and track him, there will be consequences. Right sweetheart?” 

“Yes.” Koalas scared voice comes through the phone.  

“When we have him, and know he’s clean, you’ll get your prizes back.” 

Dragon sighs. “Unharmed I hope.” 

“Of course baby, they’re in perfect condition. Though, the little one might have gotten a couple scrapes while he was fighting back.” 

Dragon frowns.  

“But other than that, he’s alive.” There’s a pause. “Say hi curly.” 

“Hi.” Anthony ‘s scared, small voice says.  

A notification comes in, and he assumes it’s the address. “We’re on our way.” 

“Look forward to it baby.” Then Sham hangs up.  

Bo drives to the meet spot and Dragon has him stay in the car.  

“Sir.” 

Dragon shakes his head. “I’ll be fine. Sham is dangerous, but not to me.” 

Bo snorts. “May I remind you that he drugged you just last night?” 

Dragon rolls his eyes and gets out of the car. He walks around and opens the door for Charlotte, who climbs out the moment the door is open.  

“We can do without the cuffs babe.” Sham appears from the shadows.  

Dragon sighs and uncuffs Charlotte. 

“Bava, check em.” 

Bava nods and walks over to pat both he and Charlotte and scan them for bugs. He’s not an idiot, or maybe he is cause he’s making a deal with the devil. 

“Clean boss.” 

Sham hums. “Katty my boy, come, come.” 

Charlotte snorts. “Don’t like that.” He mumbles as he obeys.  

“Dragon baby, your prizes as promised, are currently being delivered to your front door.” 

Dragon frowns as he unfortunately watches the bastard disappear with Charlotte. 

"Damn it.” He turns around and heads back inside his car. “We need to get back to my place, and have paramedics meet us there.” 

He decided to call Sabo.  

Bo pulls in his driveway, and Dragon leaps out and heads inside. “Robin!?” 

He finds her in the living room with Koala and Anthony, and the paramedics who are looking over them.  

“How do they look?” 

“A little shaken, but okay.” One of them says. “And according to them, they weren’t drugged, and both refusing to go to the hospital.” 

Dragon hums.  

The door swings open, and Sabo runs right to Koala, and they embrace. “You okay?” 

Koala nods. “I’m okay.” 

“I know you’re probably all itching to go home.” The four of them look at him. “But I’m gonna insist y’all stay the night or two as a precaution. “I have plenty of rooms and spare clothes, and Bo is calling for backup just in case.” 

Which means, because he and Robin are still a secret, she’ll be sleeping in another room. Which is fine, she’ll want to be with her son anyway.  

It was late and despite that fact Dragon was sitting at his dining room table, coffee mug in hand, staring daggers into the binder that Sham left. Everyone is upstairs hopefully sleeping, but he knows being kidnapped can be traumatic, so Anthony and Koala probably aren’t getting very much rest. 

A figure sits next to him, but they don’t say anything. 

Dragon sighs as he brings the mug to his lips and takes a sip of coffee. He sets it back down on the table. “You don’t have to say anything, I know I screwed up.” 

“I wasn’t going to say anything, other than see how you’re doing son.” 

He sighs again. “I broke one of the biggest rules in policing dad. I gave into a criminal’s demands.” 

His dad hums. 

“I’m the Commissioner for God’s sake.” 

He sees his dad nod out of the corner of his eyes. 

“And I let Sham use me to get what he wants.” 

His dad sighs. “Look son, I can’t say for certain if what you did was wrong, or right, however, you did what you felt you needed to in order to save them. Was Sham going to harm them? Probably not, but you did it for Sabo and Robin, and Koala and the kid. They’re more family than Sham is.” 

Dragon hums. 

“I never understood what you saw in Sham.” 

Dragon snorts. “I don’t think you want to know.” 

His dad groans. “After walking in on you two once, I think you’re right. Anyway, my point is, he knew how to get under your skin, knew that your weird attraction to him would make you pliable to his demands.” 

Dragon groans and slams his head on the table. “I feel so stupid dad. I’m fifty freaking eight and I let his stupid gorgeous face and mouth get to me like I did back then. I have a girlfriend for God’s sake.” 

His dad hums again.  

He sits up again. “I’m a cop, he’s a fucking criminal. His dad shot me!” He finally turns to look at his dad. “So, why dad, why can’t I get the hell over him?” 

His dad frowns. “Wait, Henry shot you?’ 

Dragon rolls his eyes and takes another sip of his coffee. 

“I don’t know the answer to that son, but what you need to focus on is catching the son of a bitch and putting him behind bars. Lock him up and throw away the key as they say.” 

Dragon chuckles. “What about this?” He taps the binder. “Is it legal for me to use since it was provided by a criminal?” 

His dad hums. “That depends on what’s inside, but...” 

“Darling?” 

Dragon turns to see Robin entering the kitchen. “Hey baby, everything okay?” 

His dad stands. “Night son, and don’t beat yourself up too much.” His dad taps him on the shoulder and heads to his room. 

Robin comes over and sits in his lap. He wraps an arm around her. “You alright?” 

He chuckles. “I’m okay, how’s Anthony?” 

Robin sighs. “Finally asleep.” 

He hums. “I’m glad.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Any time baby.” And he means that. She’s not Rouge, but he loves this woman like crazy, and he’ll do anything for her, and after today, that apparently includes breaking the rules and releasing a very dangerous criminal. Into the hands of another very dangerous criminal, and Dragon hates that he has no idea what Sham wants with Charlotte. What the hell is his end game?

Chapter Text

Kat curses as his phone rings from somewhere in the room. 

“I swear Kat, I’m going to murder that thing if you don’t shut it off.” 

He snorts as he sits up and looks around the room to find his phone. He doesn’t blame her for being pissed; they have a colicky baby who’s kept them up for hours, and she finally fell asleep an hour ago. He finds his phone in his pants pocket. It’s his mom, of course it is, who else would it be? 

“Yeah?” 

“I have a job for you.” 

Kat sighs. “Don’t you have someone else who could do it?” 

“No, I want you to do it.” 

He groans. “Fine.” Not like he can say no, but it was worth a shot.  

“Great, the address and name of the target is in the file you just got.” His phone dings and he rolls his eyes. “I want it done tonight, son. Let me know.” She hangs up. 

He sighs again.  

“Better go, nobody keeps mama waiting.” His girlfriend mocks. 

Kat rolls his eyes. “Yeah.” He stands and heads to the bathroom to shower. 

After his shower he spots his partner still asleep. Good, that means the baby is too. He quickly dresses and like always before he leaves on a job, he kisses his daughter goodbye, but now he has two, but he doesn’t want to risk waking the newborn after her six-hour screaming fit, so he just blows her a kiss.  

He enters his pre-teens room and bends down to give her a gently kiss on the forehead.  

Her eyes flutter open. “Daddy?” 

He smiles at her. “Sorry to wake you baby.” 

Her little brown eyes scan him and then she frowns. “You’re leaving.” 

He nods. “Yes, but it’s only for a little bit, I’ll be back before you know it.” 

She pouts but nods. “Okay.” 

As soon as he pulls up to the address, he immediately knows something is wrong. He parks and watches the house for a while. Over the week, three people come and go, they seem like a normal family, and Katakuri isn’t sure what they have to do with his mom. She normally has enemies eliminated, people standing in her way, but he hasn’t exactly found a connection to these people.  

But his mom wants to send them a message. So here he is, stalking a family to find the best time to off one of them, and send the other one a warning. 

Then, while watching, he spots them come home one day and he sees something that changes his mind. They get out of the car, and the daughter is wearing a cap and a gown. His mind races to his daughters. What kind of life is this? He needs to get them out.  

As soon as the sun sets, he makes a phone call. 

When she picks up, his ears are immediately assaulted by the sounds of their daughter crying. “Breaking radio silence? That mean you’re done and coming home?” 

“No babe, there’s been a change of plans.” 

“What do you mean?” 

He sighs. “Get the girls and run, don’t look back.” 

“What are you gonna do Kat?” 

He sighs. “What I have to do to protect my girls. You know where the go bags are, just go, I’ll catch up. Promise.” 

“Swear to me, you’re not about to die Katakuri Charlotte.” 

He smiles. “I’m not about to die.” He thinks. “I promise I’ll meet up with you.” 

She sighs. “Fine.” 

“Good, you know where to go right?” They’ve had an escape plan in place just in case anything ever happened. 

“Yes.” 

“Good, I love you.” 

“I love you too, but I’ll hate you forever if you abandon me with two kids by dying.” 

He chuckles. “I know.” 

He waits till the streets are a little more dead. It’s a gated neighborhood so he doesn’t have to wait long. He sneaks inside and puts his plan into motion.  

*****************************************  

Katakuri silently follows the guy that had him freed to an SUV. They’re flanked on either side by his brothers, but they ignore him, and he ignores them. 

“Get in son.” 

Katakuri frowns. There’s no way this guy is that much older than him. “I’m forty-eight.” 

The guy shrugs. “Your point?” 

“I’m not your son.” 

The guy smirks. “Seeing as I’m the one with the guns, and the power, I can call you whatever the hell I want.” He frowns. “Now get in the damn truck.” 

Kat clicks his tongue and gets in, followed by Sham, much like he did with the Commissioner less than an hour ago. 

“Now.” The guy says. “I want to know everything the Commissioner said to you before he dropped you off.” 

“He didn’t say anything, other than you’re Linlin’s new boss apparently.” 

Sham chuckles. “Come on son, we both know Dragon wouldn’t hand over a career criminal so easily without a plan. Out with it.” 

“He didn’t say anything.” Kat repeats. 

Sham clicks his tongue. Clearly annoyed with that answer. “Beve.” 

Beve hums and hands back a tablet. Sham then hands it to him. 

Kat frowns and takes it. His eyes widen when he sees what’s on the screen. Video of an empty room. There, in the corner, cowered together, is his family. A family he worked so hard to keep secret, so his mom never found out. He wasn’t allowed to love. His mom arranged all their marriages for business. The moment she finds out about his girls, if she doesn’t already know, she’s going to see them as business deals, not human beings.  

“How?” 

Sham snorts. “I’m very resourceful Katty my boy. You think a Marshall or two can't be bribed?” 

Kat swallows. 

“But don’t worry, they’re fine, as long as you do what I want. They’re free to go back into hiding away from mama.” 

Kat nods. 

“Good.” Sham takes the tablet back. “What did Dragon want you to do?” 

Kat sighs. “He wants me to spy for him.” 

“And?” 

“He said he knew you’d know that he wanted me to spy for him, so he has an ace up his sleeve.” 

Sham chuckles. “Of course he does. What else?” 

“That’s it, I swear.” 

Sham hums.  

“Can I see them?” 

“Oh of course.” 

Kat decides he hates this man. 

They eventually pull into an office building that Katakuri is way too familiar with. One he never thought he’d see again for another fifteen years or so. He was actually hoping to never see it again. That’s why he turned himself in. Prison is better than the lie he was living.  

They get out of the vehicle and Katakuri is led to the lower floors and finds himself being shoved into a room.  

There he finds himself face to face with three people he never thought he’d see again. 

“Daddy!” His oldest daughter lets her mother go and runs to him. He happily accepts the embrace.  

“Oh gosh, look how big you’ve gotten.” He gives her a squeeze. “I missed you so much baby girl.” 

She chuckles. “Daddy, I’m sixteen now, I'm not a baby anymore.” 

Kat hums. “You’re right.” 

“I knew you’d keep your promise; I told mama every day that you’d keep your promise.” 

He frowns and looks at the mother of his children. She’s not showing any emotion, but he knows she’s pissed as hell at him. He abandoned them all those years ago, like he promised he wouldn’t. He chose to sacrifice himself for their safety. If he ran with them, his mom could potentially find not only him, but the three people he never wanted her to know about. So, he turned himself in, and in return the Marshall’s hid his family. His mom was supposed to be none the wiser about them. She’d find out he was locked up, and she’d have no reason to look anywhere else. 

He looks at the little girl in her arms and smiles. “Wow, Aanya, you’ve gotten so big.” 

The little girl frowns and looks at her mom.  

“She can’t understand you.” 

Katakuri frowns. “Why not?” 

“She has Ménière's disease.” 

He frowns again. “How long?” 

“Since she was six months. They took her hearing aids when they brought us here.” 

“Are you coming home with us now daddy?” 

Kat sighs. “I want that so much.” 

The mother of his children scoffed and rolled her eyes. Yeah, she hates him.  

“I have more jobs to do.” 

“Awwww.” 

The door swings open, and the one person he never wanted to see again walks in.  

“Well, well, well.” 

Damn it. It seems as if Sham was lying. Surprise, surprise. Katakuri moves Fauna to be with her mother, and he moves in front of them. 

His mom has a seat in the chair in the corner below the camera. “Katakuri, you naughty boy, hiding my grandchildren from me.” 

“What do you want?” 

His mom looks around him. “Come here girl.” 

“Daddy?” 

Kat sighs. They have no choice but to cooperate right now. “It’s fine, she won’t hurt you.” 

His daughter stands and hesitantly walks over to his mother.  

His mom looks her over, and he can see the wheels turning in her head on how she can use his daughter for her own personal gain. “What’s your name girl? And your real one, not the fake name the Marshall’s gave you.” 

Fauna looks back at them and silently questions if she should answer. Kat nods. She turns back to look at his mother. “Fauna.” 

“And your age?” 

Kat groans.  

“Do something.” Katrina whispers from behind him. 

“I can’t Kat.” He hisses back. “I’m powerless right now.” Damn, he really wishes he knew how to get ahold of Dragon right now.  

She clicks her tongue again. 

“Sixteen.” Fauna finally answers.  

His mother hums.  

Damn it! This is exactly what he didn’t want. 

“Yes, yes, you’ll make a pretty bride.” His mom shoos her away. Fauna comes over and sits with her mother. “Other one, come.” 

“She’s six mom.” 

“Your point?”  

“You can’t marry off a six-year-old.” 

“Watch me, come here child.” Yeah, she doesn’t give a damn about age. She starts planning things as soon as she can. 

“Kat?” 

He sighs. “Yeah, send her over.” 

Katrina sighs and Katakuri watches as his youngest also hesitantly approaches his mom.  

“Name?” 

“Aanya.” Katrine says. 

“She can answer for herself.” His mom snaps.  

Except, she can’t and he and Katrina both know what his mom will do if she knows Aanya is disabled. She’ll be a child slave, a handmaid for one of his sisters or sisters-in-law. Worked to the bone until the day she dies. Abused, used, and possibly raped.  

“She’s scared.” He tries. 

His mother rolls her eyes.  

This is about to go to shit. 

The door swings open again, and one of his brothers approaches Aanya and holds out his hand to her.  

Damn it.  

There in his hands are what Katakuri assumes are her hearing aids. Aanya looks up at his brother questionably, then looks over at him with unsure eyes. He nods at her. She hesitantly takes them and puts them in her ears. Then she runs back to Katrina.  

His mom grins evilly. “I see, you were keeping more secrets from me.” 

Hell.  

“Well.” His mother stands. “Cadenza, these four need a place to stay, under lock and key of course.” 

“Of course mama.” His brother agrees. “Boss man had us bring over their things.” 

“Everything was inspected, yes?” 

Cadenza nods. “Yes mama.” 

His mom hums. “Good, and I’m pretty sure Shamrock needs to see Katakuri later on.” 

“Yes mama.” 

His mom leaves the room.  

His brother looks at him and frowns. “Come on.” 

“Kat?” 

“We cooperate.” He tells her. ‘For now.’ He thinks. 

The four of them are led through the hallways of the building to an elevator. He sees a lot of old faces and a lot of new ones. He knows the layout of this building like the back of his hand, but he knows he can’t escape easily, especially with three extra bodies.  

“Whatever you’re thinking, stop.” His brother orders.  

“Are you married Cadenza? Have kids?” 

His brother frowns. “No, and if you were here, you’d know that.” 

“Yeah, well, I just want to protect my family.” 

“Except we’re your family, and you left us.” 

“For them. My daughters deserve better than to be used as pawns in her power-hungry game.” 

His brother scoffs. 

Guess that conversation is over. 

They’re led to a room that is very heavily guarded and locked from the outside. It’s been made into a mini apartment for them, just no kitchen. Knowing his mother, she’s going to choose their diet for them. Katrina goes to the other room to settle the girls and let them rest a bit. They’ve been awake since Sham found them apparently. Too scared to sleep. He decides to look around. He checks the two windows. Locked, but it’s a ten story drop and there’s no fire escape. 

“Well.” Katrina starts when she comes back into the main room. He just knows he’s not going to like what comes out of her mouth next. “You’ve really done it now, haven’t you?” 

“You think I wanted this Kat? You think I wanted my girls to be used in her damn game? I left to protect you three.” 

“You promised me...” 

“I know what I promised!” 

She frowns. Taken aback by his sudden outburst.  

“I lied Katrina, I lied. I knew if I ran my mom was gonna come looking and I didn’t want to lead her straight to y’all. And I knew if you thought I wasn’t coming, you wouldn’t go, so I lied to protect you.” 

“Well, that worked out just great didn’t it?” 

He rolls his eyes. “Oh my God.” 

“Don’t ‘oh my god’ me! I have every right to be pissed the hell off! That woman is about to marry off my daughters to a couple of dirtbag criminals all for her selfish narcissistic ego!” 

“I’m aware Katrina.” 

“So why the hell are you so damn calm right now?!” 

“Can you please keep your voice down?” 

Katrina rolls her eyes.  

“I only look calm alright? I’m freaking out, I promise you, but us standing here arguing isn’t going to do a damn thing. She’s not going to marry them right this second, so let’s just relax.” 

Another eye roll.  

He groans. Again, he really wishes he knew how to get a hold of Dragon right now. 

“I’m guessing they took your phones?” 

Katrina nods. “The Marshalls didn’t think it was safe for us to have them, so we only had the house phone.” 

He sighs. “Okay.” He looks around the makeshift apartment. He doesn’t see cameras, so he’s hoping they’re not being watched right now. “Anything electronic, at all?” 

“Just a television, and we could only have DVD's, no streaming devices.” 

He sighs again. He beings to search the place.  

“What are you looking for?” 

“Anything.” He says as he starts going through bags. “Anything I can use to get a signal to someone.” 

“And you’re gonna do that how?” 

“I was in prison the last six years, I'm very resourceful Kat.” 

“Wait, prison?” 

He looks at her and frowns. “You didn’t know?” 

“No, I just thought you left us.” 

He sighs and goes back to his task. “I figured me being arrested was a good enough excuse for my mom to have not completed the job she gave me, and if I ran, she’d come looking.” 

Katrina sighs. “So, you didn’t just leave me for someone else? Someone in the family?” 

He frowns and looks at her. “No babe, there was never anyone else.” Then a certain little black-haired kid popped into his mind. “Well, there were a few flings in prison, but I thought I was never getting out of there, and I figured you’d be pissed and move on.” 

“Oh, I was pissed alright.” 

Kat snorts. “I'm sure.” 

She comes over and sits on the bed. “But I didn’t move on.” 

He looks up at her and quirks a brow. “Really?” 

Katrina shrugs. “How could I have? I was a single mom in Witness Protection; besides, I didn’t want anyone else, just you.” She looks at him with those damn eyes, and he’s instantly drawn back in. “You know, it’s been six years.” 

Shit.  

Kat shoves the bags off the bed and lunges forward. The moment their lips connect he’s brought back to seventeen years ago. Sex with Katrina was always good, always wild. She’s a freak in bed and he loves her for it. They got pregnant with Fauna without even trying, and he was in love the moment she was born.  

Katrina starts to scoot back and he follows. She goes for his pants and starts to undo them. 

“You sure about this?” 

 “Just shut the hell up and get your giant dick inside me.” 

He groans and goes back to kissing her. He helps her pull her leggings down and she’s soaked. He slides in easily. 

She groans. “Damn I missed that so much.” 

He snorts and latches onto her neck. He reaches a hand under her shirt and bra and begins to play with her breasts.  

She moans. “Just...” She’s out of breath as he pounds into her. “Don’t...” She takes a few more shaky breaths. “Cum...inside.” 

He nods and goes back to kissing her. The moment he feels he’s about to blow he pulls out and cums on the sheets. 

“Damn, you came too fast.” 

He rolls his eyes and lowers himself to eat her out. 

“Shit!” She clamps her legs around his head. “Warn a girl.” 

He chuckles as he eats her out.  

“Shit your tongue is still amazing.” 

He hums. She’s absolutely delicious and the taste has him hard again.  

“Kat.” She taps his head. “I’m gonna…” She moans loud as she orgasms. Squeezing his head with her thighs like a melon. “Damn.” She breathes out as her body relaxes.  

He chuckles as he sits back on his knees. He tucks himself back into his pants and zips up. “Now, question.” 

She frowns as she quirks a brow at him.  

“How do her hearing aids work?” 

They’ve been stuck in this room for hours.  Someone checks in on them periodically. He’s been sitting here trying to play with one of his daughters hearing aids, but it’s not working. The girls were playing a card game in their room. Anything to keep them distracted. They brought dinner, and of course it was something that didn’t require anything sharp. 

“What’s the sauce made with?” Katrina asks the person who brought dinner.  

“It’s food, you eat what we deliver, or you starve.” With that, the person leaves.  

She sighs. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“Aanya can’t have peanuts, and I couldn’t find any of her EpiPens. So, if she has an allergic reaction…” They ain’t taking them to the hospital.  

He frowns. “Oh.” He sticks his pinky in the sauce and then tastes it.  

Katrina cringes.

"Yeah, that most definitely has peanuts in it.” 

She sighs. “Can you taste the rolls too?” 

He nods. Right, Katrina can’t have peanuts either. He reaches over and picks up an egg roll. He frowns. “Yeah.” 

“Damn it.” 

Suddenly he spots something out his window. “The hell?” He stands up and walks over to investigate. A series of flashing lights. “Shit.” 

“What?” 

“Still know Morse code?” 

“Yeah, why?” 

He points out the window and she comes over to look.  

“Sup donut ho?” 

Katakuri groans. “You’ve got to be shitting me.” That’s Dragon’s fucking Ace? Chicken man!? 

“I got your back.” Katrina continues to translate. He met her on a job and her knowing Morse code was a surprise, but it comes in handy. 

*********************  

They were lying there on their sides, naked only covered by a sheet, and only on their bottom halves. He was kissing her arm and shoulder and his hand was exploring her body.  

Katrina sighs. “You’re amazing with your hands.” 

He chuckles. “I aim to please baby.” 

She chuckles as she rolls over. She kisses him. “Any more hidden talents?” 

Katakuri snorts. “I ain’t gonna be the only one opening up babe.” 

She grins. “Fine, if I tell you a hidden talent, will you finally tell me a juicy secret about you?” 

He chuckles. “What makes you think I have a juicy secret?” 

“Oh, come on.” She kisses his lips, then his cheek. “A tall, dark, handsome and mysterious man, walks into the club in a fancy ass suite with henchmen.” 

He snorts. “Brothers, but okay.” 

“You have to have a secret or two.” 

He chuckles. “Fair enough. Okay baby, you got yourself a deal.” 

She grins and bites her bottom lip. She leans into his ear and bites it before whispering. “I know Morse code.” 

He scrunches his face. “Seriously?” 

She smiles and leans in for another kiss. “You’re turn big boy.” 

He smiles. “Okay, I’m addicted to donuts and I hate the dentist.” 

*************************  

“I’m assuming you are donut ho?” 

He sighs. “Yes. Got a way we can reply?” Katrina hums and walks over to her bag. She brings back a small makeup mirror and... “Lip gloss?” 

She twists the cap off and there's a light.  

“Nifty.” 

She rolls her eyes.  

“Okay, if I give you a message can you reply?” 

She nods.  

“Good.” 

Too bad the door opens. They flinch.  

“Boss is ready to see you.” Oven says.  

He sighs. “You okay without me for a bit?” 

She nods. “We’ll be fine.” 

“Okay.” He kisses her temple then follows his brother to the new boss. 

“As ordered boss.” Oven says as they enter what seems as though is Sham’s office. 

“Thanks. You can go.” 

“Sir.” Oven says, then leaves. 

“Sit.” Sham orders. 

He has no choice. He sits.

"I have a job for you."

Hell. "That's why you busted me out of prison? To do a job?"

"Of course, your mom said you were the best after all."

Damn it. "And my family is leverage, that it?"

"That about sums it up, yeah."

"Why me? Linlin has plenty of kids good with a gun."

Sham shrugs. "As the new head of the Charlotte family, I don't accept failure as an option."

He frowns. "What do you mean?"

"You're going to finish what you started six years ago." He throws a picture down in front of Katakuri. "And take out what's standing in my way."

Katakuri picks up the photo and frowns.

"And since the daughter is no longer an option, seeing as she's family now, you're only going to take out the thorn in my side. Her dad. Fisher Tiger."

To hell in a handbasket. He's so freaking screwed.

Chapter Text

Fisher watches his daughter run back and forth. Curious.  

“Baby girl, what’s got you some flustered?” 

Koala stops in her tracks and looks at him. She frowns. Then she sighs and walks over to the table. She has a seat across from him. “Promise you won’t freak out daddy?” 

Uh oh. “Okay?” 

“I, um, I met someone.” 

Fisher chokes.  

Koala rolls her eyes. “I knew you’d freak.” 

“No, no, no freaking.” 

Koala quirks a brow.  

"Okay, fine, a little freaking.” 

Koala chuckle. “I really like him daddy.” 

“Uh huh.” He nods. “So, why are you pacing then?” 

“Papa.” 

Fisher laughs. “I see.” 

“He’ll lock me up with a chastity belt and in a tower.” 

Fisher snorts. He wouldn’t put the idea past his husband. 

*************************************  

Is Fisher still mad? Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that he hates what’s about to happen. He’s standing hand in hand with his husband on their porch waiting for Smoker to arrive in order to take his husband to prison. For possession and distribution of illegal substances. On top of some other charges.  

“I’m still mad.” 

Arlong chuckles. “That line is getting old babe.” 

Fisher sighs. “I just really hate this whole damn situation that you’ve gotten yourself into babe. I’m losing my husband, and Koala is losing a dad.” 

Arlong sighs. “I know, I’m sorry.” 

A truck pulls into their driveway, and Fisher frowns. He pulls his husband in for one more hug and kiss then walks him to the truck. “I love you.” 

Arlong smiles and gives him another kiss. “I love you too. Who knows, maybe they allow conjugal visits?” 

Fisher rolls his eyes, and his husband laughs as he gets in the truck.  

He spends the rest of the day stress cleaning, wishing he could hold and talk to his daughter, but he has no idea where she is, so he decides that he needs to work to distract himself from the fact that he’s not going to be able to have his husband for the next twenty to thirty years. Maybe less if his husband has good behavior. If he’s honest, he doesn’t really know how the whole good behavior thing works. His expertise is fish. Where to take his boat out to catch them. He knows how to fillet them, prepare them, store them, cook them, but fish is his life. It’s how he provides for his family. So, he heads into the office.  

When he gets to the office, he heads to his husband’s desk and sits in the chair. He sighs. He looks at the pictures Arlong has on his desk. One from their wedding day, and a few of Koala and then a family one. On the day she graduated from college. “What the hell were you thinking babe?” He whispers to no one.  

A knock on the office door and he summons them inside.  

“You called boss?” 

Fisher hums. “Yeah, I need all the individuals involved in my husband’s side business.” 

“Any particular reason?” 

Fisher hums. “I just need to see them all in here in ten minutes.” 

Kuroobi nods. “Yes sir.” 

Fisher starts searching through his husband’s desk in search of the evidence that Dragon can use to prosecute Shamrock when they find the bastard, but unfortunately his desk is way too clean.  

This makes no sense. 

***************************************  

After their couple rounds of goodbye sex Fisher was lying on his side facing his husband who was also on his side, hand resting on his husband’s hip.  

“I need a favor.” 

Fisher frowns. “That depends on what it is Arlong.” 

“I have a separate set of books in my desk; you should get them to Dragon.” 

Fisher frowns again. 

“Yes, it’s more evidence against me, but it’s also evidence against the Charlotte family. It has names, dates, dollar amounts, everything.” 

“Fine.” 

***************************************  

His phone ringing brings him out of his thoughts.  

He looks at the screen and frowns. 

Blocked  

He decides to answer anyway. “Hello?” 

“Daddy?” 

Fisher smiles. “Hey baby, how’s your work thing?” He’s not sure if Koala knows that he knows that she’s not on a work trip, but in protective custody, so he plays innocent. 

“Oh, she’s having so much fun, aren’t you dear?” 

He pales. “Who’s this exactly?” 

“We haven’t met yet, but I have met your husband, and beautiful daughter here.” 

Fisher growls. “Shamrock, I presume.” 

The guy chuckles. “At your service mon ami, but please, I prefer Sham.” 

“I don’t give a damn what you prefer, what the hell do you want?” 

The guy laughs. “Oh, don’t you worry, your darling little girl is safe, I don’t hurt family, however, all I need from you is simple. There will be a package delivered to your door some time tonight, complete the instructions inside and your angel will be let go, easy peasy.” 

Fisher frowns. “Promise you won’t hurt her?” 

“You have my word.” 

He rolls his eyes. “How am I supposed to trust your word?” 

He chuckles. “I’m sure Dragon told you dear boy, I don’t hurt family, and she’s Sabo’s girl, so that makes her family.” 

“Fine.” 

The guy chuckles. “Great, pleasure doing business with you.” 

Fisher rolls his eyes. 

“Oh, and Mr. Tiger, I wouldn’t dream of calling my dear brother-in-law if I were you, this darling girl isn’t related by blood, so I’m willing to bend the rules a bit if I have to, got it?” 

Fisher nods. “Yes.” Now he somewhat understands what his husband was going through, and why he made the decisions that he did. 

“Good, good. Til next time Mr. Tiger.” The jerk hangs up.  

Fisher growls again. “Just great.” 

“We’re here boss.” 

Fisher jumps at the voice then sighs. He was on the phone longer than he thought, or they were early. “Um, right, come in.” 

The handful of individuals pile in the office.  

“As most of you have already probably put together, I have been made aware of what’s been going on here every week. You were all also made aware that Arlong was arrested and will be there for a long time. I am not my husband; I will not continue this nasty business deal. So as of now you are all on probation. No one can be on their own, no more side businesses, weekly drug tests, and nothing gets done without coming to me first. Are we understood?” 

“Yes sir.” 

“I want to fire you all right now, but losing all ten of you at once will really hurt me since we’ve lost the backbone of this company.” It’s so damn true. Arlong ran everything around here, Fisher just took care of the boats and their captains; the business side was all his husband. He has no idea how he’s going to run this place without him. “That’s all for now. Back to work.” 

“Yes sir.” They say and one by one leave the office.  

“Oh, um, Kuroobi, can you stay back a minute?” 

Kuroobi nods. 

Fisher speaks up as soon as everyone else is out of the room. “Since I have no idea how to fill Arlongs shoes, I might need your assistance.” 

Kuroobi nods again.  

“That’s another reason I’m not firing you.” 

His employee nods again. “Thank you sir.” 

“Don’t thank me, thank my husband.” 

****************************************  

“There is one more favor I need babe.” 

Fisher sighs and rolls to his back. “You’re asking a lot of me right now Arlong.” 

“I know.” His husband props up on his elbow to look Fisher in the eyes. “But this one isn’t for me, it’s for the other workers involved.” 

Fisher sighs. “Let me guess, you want me to go easy on them.” 

His husband smiles. “Smart as ever I see.” 

He clicks his tongue. “Fine.” 

Arlong chuckles. “Thank you. Now.” His husband leans down to kiss him. “What do you say to another round?” 

Fisher rolls his eyes but kisses his husband again. “Why don’t you put that amazing mouth to work, show me how sorry you really are.” 

Arlong groans. “Absolutely.” 

****************************************  

“He insisted y’all not be fired.” 

Kuroobi nods and hums. 

“Now.” He stands. “Let’s get to work.” 

Kuroobi nods again. “Yes sir.” 

His husbands job is hard. Give him a boat and crew so he can risk his life on the ocean any day, but managing a business on top of it? Damn. They made an agreement when they started the business after he retired from the Navy that he would run the ship, and Arlong would handle the books and politics of it all.  

“Where did the drugs come in?” 

“Dock twenty sir.” 

He sighs. “Hachi’s dock.” Why didn’t he notice that sooner? Hachi always had the biggest loads and now he knows why. He feels like such a fool.  

Kuroobi nods. “Yes sir. A ship would meet Hachi at a previously disclosed location at some point along his fishing route, and then he’d bring them back and load them on the truck. We had to have everything loaded and ready for them by eleven. They came, inspected it, and then left by midnight.” 

Again, why didn’t he notice this sooner? His husband has always stayed late but in the last few years every Friday like clockwork, Arlong came home later on Friday’s or Saturday’s he guesses. “And it was just drugs?” 

“That I couldn’t tell you sir, I never saw what was in the crates. We just loaded the crates on the truck.” 

Fisher hums. He trusted his husband and now he has to clean up Arlong's mess. “Well, we need to change his route.” 

“Yes sir.” 

“And we’re having the Coast Guard come and Hachi is going to tell them where the meeting spot is.” 

He nods. “Yes sir.” 

“We’re also letting every Captain know that the police and coast guard have my permission to search every boat daily until we clean up this mess.” 

“Yes sir.” 

“And if they refuse, they’re fired.” 

“Yes sir.” 

They continue the day like that, seeing where he needs to clean shop, and where things are running fine. Taking extra time reading things over cause his husband just told him where to sign, and Fisher trusted that Arlong would never steer him wrong. Too bad he was wrong, and now his husband is in prison. 

By the end of the day, Fisher is so done with paperwork that he decides he needs to call it quits and head home. He has a package to wait for after all.  

“You staying much longer sir?” 

Fisher looks up at the night guard. He sighs. “No, Mike, I’m heading out now.” 

He nods.  

“Wait, Mike, did you work Friday?” 

Mike frowns. “No sir, that was one day that Bavarois insisted on working. He told me to enjoy the weekends with my family, so I’ve always been off those nights.” 

Fisher frowns. That’s not a name he recognizes, but then again, his husband did most of the hiring. “Okay, thank you.” 

Mike nodded. “Yes sir.” 

“I’ll just be a few more minutes, but I’ll lock up when I leave.” 

“Of course sir.” 

When he finally pulls into his garage he sighs. “Arlong, why?” He whispers to no one but himself. He gets out of his truck, locks it and heads inside. He heads straight for the kitchen to grab one of Arlongs beers. He doesn’t really drink, but after the day he’s had, he needs a whole six pack.  

“Mr. Tiger.” 

He jumps and spills his beer. “Shit.” He turns to look at the man. “You’re not Sham.” 

The guy sighs. “No.” He throws a stack of papers on the island. “He wants you to sign those.” 

Fisher frowns. “What are they exactly?” 

“I’m just the messenger Mr. Tiger.” 

Fisher sets down his beer and picks up the stack of papers. “He wants me to sign over my business?” 

“Just sign them.” 

“I can’t do that. That’s my livelihood, my legacy for my daughter.” 

“You have no choice Mr. Tiger.” He pulls out a gun and cocks it. “It’s you or your daughter, you choose.” He points the gun. “Now sign the damn papers.”  

Fisher pulls a pen out of his jacket pocket. “Is she alright?” 

“She’s fine.” 

“Can I talk to her again?” 

“I don’t have that power Mr. Tiger.” 

Fisher frowns but nods. He signs them and hands them over.  

“There is one more thing.” 

“What?” 

“It’s in your office.” 

He frowns and walks there. 

“Have a seat at your desk.” 

He does.  

The guy pulls out another piece of paper and puts it on Fisher's desk.  

He reads it over and looks up at him with wide eyes. “Please, you can’t do this, I have a daughter.” 

“I’m sorry Mr. Tiger, but I’ve got a family to protect too.” He walks over to stand next to him. He’s suddenly being injected with something. He’s lost all his fight, but he can still see as the guy puts the gun in his hand, then raises it to his temple. “I really am sorry Mr. Tiger. Truly.” 

Bang! 

Koala begged Sabo to let her go home. After he told her what happened to her Papa she needs to hug her daddy. She needs to see him. It can’t be true, it’s got to be a mistake, her Papa would never get involved with criminals. Her dads were the sweetest and most honorable men out there. They both served in the Navy for goodness sake.  

No, she won’t believe it. It has to be a mistake.  

“I’m sorry babe.” 

She refuses to look at him. No way her dads are doing what he says. “I just need to see my dad.” 

Sabo sighs. “Okay, but call me if you need anything. I love you.” 

She sniffles but nods. “Yeah, okay.” 

Her boyfriend sighs again.  

Koala gets out of the car and walks to the front door. Sabo drives off. She puts the key in and once open she calls out to her dad. "Daddy!?" 

No answer.

She takes two steps into the house only to realize her dads office doors are ajar. Koala frowns. "Daddy?" Still no answer. She pushes the doors open and gasps at the sight. "Daddy!" She runs to him. "No, no, no, no. Daddy!" Tears fill her eyes as she cries. She picks up the paper. 

I'm sorry The rest is covered in blood. 

"No, no." She refuses to believe it. She pulls out her cell phone and calls for help. "Daddy please. This isn't true daddy please. Daddy please!?"

Koala just cries until help arrives. 

Chapter Text

Sabo is on his way to his room when he hears a sniffle come from the bathroom. He frowns and knocks. “Annie?” 

No answer.  

He tries again. “Annabelle?” 

Nothing, and calling her by her full name usually gets her attention. 

Sabo hears Ace’s phone go off and he walks over and knocks on his brother’s open door to get his attention. He speaks up when his brother looks up at him from his desk. “Know what’s wrong with Annie?” 

Ace frowns. “No why?” 

“Sounds like she’s crying in the bathroom. I tried knocking, but she’s not answering.” 

Ace frowns, stands and heads to the bathroom. 

Sabo just proceeds to his room. He starts changing out of his uniform when his brother appears in the doorway.  

“I’m heading to the store for ice cream.” 

Sabo snorts. “Pout party?” 

Ace nods. “Yeah, auntie flow.” 

Sabo gags. That's one point in the gay box. No monthly random emotions from your partner. 

Ace laughs. 

After the three of them inhaled their ice cream, they were snuggled on the couch with a movie. However, they were all paying more attention to their phones. 

‘I think it’s really sweet.’ Carina’s text read. 

Sabo smiles as he replies. ‘Yeah?’ 

‘Yeah, it’s just too bad this didn’t go very far.’ 

Sabo frowns. ‘Yeah, sorry about that.’ 

‘Lol, no worries, glad we could at least be friends. Hope your sister feels better.’ 

He smiles again. ‘Yeah, thanks.’ 

Annie snorts at whatever notification she just got.  

“What?” Ace asks.  

“Nothing.” Annie lies.  

“Uh huh.” Sabo knows she’s lying about something. 

****************************************  

Sabo was barely out of the gate when Koala called.  

“Forget something?” 

“Sabo.” She cries. 

Sabo slams on the brakes. Thankfully, there’s no one behind him. “What’s wrong?” 

“Daddy, he’s, he’s...” She sounds like she's hyperventilating. 

Sabo turns the car around and speeds back to his girlfriends parents' house. He jumps out of his car and runs inside. He follows the sounds of his girlfriend's cries.  

“Shit.” He whispers when he takes in the scene before him. Koala is holding her dad on the floor, blood everywhere. Crying.  

“Help him.” She cries.  

“Okay, baby, okay, but you got to let him go.” 

Koala shakes her head frantically. "I cant."

Sabo sighs.  

“Paramedics!” 

“In here!” Sabo calls back. “Baby, you have to let him go.” 

Koala takes a few shaky breaths as the paramedics kneel down next to her and her dad. “I can’t.” 

“They can’t help him if you don’t let go.” He reaches a hand out to her. “Come on.” 

Koala stares at it for a second then looks at the paramedics. “Promise you’ll be careful.” 

The paramedics nods. “Promise hun.” 

Koala gently sets her dad down the rest of the way on the floor and crawls to Sabo. He wraps his arms around her as she cries on him more. Sabo just lets her cry as he watches the paramedic work. They share a look with each other and then him.  

They both frown and shake their heads.  

Shit. 

“Okay baby, they’re gonna take him to the hospital.” 

They both frown and he glares at them.  

“Right of course.” They start loading her dad onto the stretcher for Koalas benefit. He knows that she needs to know the truth eventually, but she’s too fragile right now. 

“Why don’t we get you home and washed up?” 

“I can’t leave him.” She cries.  

More people start pilling in. Cops.  

“Come on baby, we need to give them space.” 

“Noooo, he needs help.” 

“I know, I know, we’re just in the way, they’re getting him help.” He helps her stand. “Come on.” 

She nods and sniffles as he walks her out of the house. Another set of paramedics ran up to them. “You hurt hun?” 

She shakes her head.  

Sabo watches as they load her father's body into the first ambulance. He knows it’s not protocol, but he’ll deal with his dad later.  

“Let’s look you over anyway and then we can drive you to the hospital.” 

Koala nods. He walks her over to the other ambulance.  

Sabo hands over his girlfriend.  

“I’ll be right back okay, just gonna call my dad.” 

“Daddy wouldn’t do this; he didn’t do this.” 

“I know, we’ll find 'em, promise.” 

“Deputy Commissioner.” 

Sabo sighs as he turns to face the officer.  

“Can we talk?” 

Sabo nods. He walks with them, so they aren’t within ear shot of his still in shock girlfriend. 

“Did you go to the academy?” 

Sabo frowns. “No.” Where the hell is this going?

“Exactly, you just made a promise to that girl that we can’t keep. This is suicide, cut, and dry. There was a note, and the gun was right there, I’m willing to bet that his hand has GSR on it. There’s no signs of forced entry, and nothing that points to an intruder." 

“You’ve been here all of five minutes, how can you be so sure?” 

“I’m a detective for a reason, you’re a reporter with a fancy title, end of story. This case is getting closed as soon as the MEs report is on my desk.” He walks off.  

Sabo sighs. He walks back over to the ambulance to ride to the hospital with his girlfriend. He ends up texting his dad instead. 

While Koala is being looked over, he just stands in the corner and waits for his dad. She seems to still be in shock. She hasn’t spoken or really looked at anyone since they loaded her into the ambulance. 

The door opens and a nurse pops her head in. “Sabo Monkey?” 

Sabo nods. “Yeah.” 

“Your dad is looking for you.” 

He nods again. “Thank you.”  He walks over and puts a hand on her shoulder. “I’m gonna step out a second, okay?” 

She nods. That’s all she can seem to do now.  

“We’re almost finished here.” The doctor says. 

Sabo hums and nods. He steps out of the room.  

“How is she?” 

Sabo sighs. “She found her dad with a gun in his hand and a suicide note, how do you think she’s doing?” 

His dad sighs.  

“Is there any chance she’s right, and the detectives are wrong dad?” 

His dad sighs again. “I’d have to look myself to be sure, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up son.” 

Sabo frowns and nods.  

“The detectives told me what happened son, she needs to know the truth, her dads not coming back.” 

Sabo groans and takes a seat in the closet chair he can find. “I know, I screwed up. The detective made sure to tell me.” 

His dad hums as he takes a seat next to him. “You were just trying to protect her in her vulnerable state son.” His dad takes a seat next to him and places a hand on his back. “She’s going to need you to get through this.” 

Sabo sighs. “She lost both parents in a matter of hours dad, and she was kidnapped, I don’t know what she's going through.” 

“You don’t have to understand son; you just have to be there.” 

Sabo nods.  

“Also, the detectives wanted to talk to her, but I told them that it could wait. Get her home and they can talk to her tomorrow.” 

Sabo nods again.  

“Commissioner.” 

Sabo and his dad look up at Bogard. 

“There’s an urgent transmission for you.” 

His dad sighs and stands. “I love ya kid. Take care of her and don’t worry about work.” 

“Thanks dad.” 

“Also, I’m not saying she will, but I wouldn’t leave her alone for a while.” 

Sabo sighs. “Yeah, okay.” 

His dad nods and walks out with Bo and T.  

“Mr. Monkey.” 

Sabo shoots to his feet. 

“She’s fine, just still in shock.” That’s what he thought. “However, I’m gonna give her something to help her relax and get some sleep.” 

Sabo nods. “Thank you.” 

“My pleasure. I’ll get this prescription in and then we’ll get her discharged.” 

He nodded again. “Thank you.” 

Sabo is very aware it’s late but as he’s waiting for his girlfriend to be sent home, he calls his brother to ask him for a favor. Ace is usually a night owl, but he’s also a parent now, so Sabo’s really hoping he’s not about to wake up an exhausted parent struggling to find sleep. 

“Yeah?” 

“Sorry to wake you.” 

“You didn’t Jonah is having a bad night, what’s up?” At least Sabo didn’t wake him, not that Jonah having a rough night is any better.  

“Any way Carrot could meet me at my house within the hour?” 

“Uh, I can ask, why?” 

Sabo sighs. “Koalas dad shot himself.” 

“Fuck.” 

“Koala is currently in shock and covered in his blood, I need to get her home and washed up, but...” 

“You two haven’t seen each other naked yet.” 

Sabo frowns. “Yeah, and dad doesn’t think she should be left alone. I don’t want to see her like that for the first time in such a vulnerable state.” 

Ace sighs. “Let me get Carrot and I’ll have her text you.” 

“Thanks.”  

“Not a problem, that’s what family does.” 

Carrot meets them at their front door. Sabo helps Koala out of the car and as soon as they’re inside hands her off to Carrot. 

“Thank you for this.” 

She smiles. “No problem.” 

He sets the stuff they got from the hospital on the counter. “I can set out some clothes for her on the bed.” 

Carrot nods. “That’ll work, thanks.” Carrot starts leading Koala to the bathroom. 

Sabo sighs. He waits for them to be in the bathroom with the door closed before he walks past the bathroom into their bedroom and straight to her dresser. He pulls out fresh clothes and lays them on the bed just like he told Carrot he would. He decides that he also wants a shower, so he also grabs some lounge clothes for himself and heads to the guest bathroom to shower. Koala was upset with him earlier so he’s not sure if she wants to share a bed with him tonight or not. He’s mentally preparing himself for the couch. The only other bed they have is a crib, and it’s in pieces. Koala insisted they needed to be ready for anything.  

***********************************  

As soon as Sabo walked through the door and he couldn’t immediately find his girlfriend he walked back to the room she’s been paining only to find her on the floor reading some kind of booklet. 

“Whatcha got there?” 

“A crib.” She answers nonchalantly. Like, it’s no big deal. 

“I can see that, why do you have a crib?” 

Koala shrugs. “You never know.” 

“Uh huh.” 

Koala shrugs. “Look at Ace and Marco, two kids in less than a year.” 

Sabo smiles. “Okay, fair point.” 

****************************************  

Sabo steps out of the shower and immediately dries and dresses. He hangs his towel over the railing and exits the bathroom.  

He finds Carrot in the kitchen filling the tea kettle with water. “She in bed.” 

Carrot hums and nods. “She said that the hospital gave her some relaxants.” 

Sabo nods. “Yeah.” He walks over and pulls the bottle of pills out of the brown paper bag.  

“Know when the last time she ate was?” 

Sabo shakes his head. “No.” He sighs. “In fact, up until yesterday she was in protective custody.” 

Carrot frowns. 

“Long story but dad thinks the danger is behind her for now.” 

Carrot hums.  

“Anyway, today, or technically last night was the first time I’ve seen her since last week.” 

“Okay, I can make her something really fast, got soup?” 

“Um, yeah.” He walks to the pantry and gets out a can for her.  

While Carrot warms up some soup for Koala so she can take her meds he walks to the bedroom to check on her.  

“K, babe.” 

He hears her sniffle. “I just want to get the image out of my head.” 

He sighs and walks over to her side of the bed. He picks up her feet and sits down, then sets them in his lap. He begins to rub them. “I wish I knew how to do that for you.” 

“Invent a time machine and go back in time to keep my dad from dying.” 

Sabo snorts. 

Koala stares at him blankly.  

“Oh, you weren’t joking?” 

Koala sighs and just closes her eyes. Sabo watches as tears roll down her face.  

He sighs. “Why don’t we go get you some food then you can come and get some rest after you take your meds. Yeah?” 

Koala sighs but sits up. Sabo helps her to the island where Carrot has her soup and tea ready.  

Carrot nods for him to join her out of earshot so he does. “So Ace texted, but if she needs me for anything just call.” 

Sabo nods. “Thanks.” 

She smiles softly. “Of course.” 

After Koala is done eating her soup, drinking her tea and taking her meds, Sabo helps her back to bed. “Up to you if I stay or not babe.” 

She frowns. “Why wouldn’t you stay?” 

“Well, because you were upset with me about your papa.” 

Koala sighs. “Papa made his own decisions, I guess I was just shocked. I knew he was up to something, but bad enough to get arrested? I may have been in a little bit of denial, but suicide? There’s no way daddy did that.” 

Sabo climbs in behind her and wraps his arms around her. He kisses her cheek. “I know, I believe you.” 

They just lay there, snuggled, and Sabo hopes she can get some rest.  

“Weird question.” 

Or not. “Okay?” 

“Am I allowed to visit Papa?” 

Sabo sighs. “I’m not sure, but I can call my dad later on in order to find out.” 

“He needs to know about daddy.” 

“Do you know?” 

“Yes, I know.” 

“I’m so sorry babe.” 

“You’re going to find them, right?” Koala turns in his arms and stares into his soul with her big beautiful eyes. “You promised.” 

“I know I did, and dad said he’d look into it okay.” He leans in and kisses her forehead. “Sleep now, okay?” 

She nods.  

Sabo wasn’t really comfortable walking his girlfriend into a prison, but he understands that she needs this so he stays silent. She follows his dad and he follows behind her.  

His dad shows Koala into a room, then gets someone’s attention. “When they bring him in, no cuffs.” 

The guard nods. “Yes sir.” 

He and his dad walk into the room with her. They don’t have to wait long before Arlong is joining them.  

“Koala?” 

“Papa!” Koala jumps to her feet and crashes into her dad. Wrapping her arms around him as she starts to cry.  

He looks confused as he returns the embrace. “I’m alright baby, are you okay?” 

“No, daddy, daddy he….” 

Arlong is even more confused. He looks at the other two people in the room. “Where’s my husband?” 

Sabo frowns and looks at his dad.  

“I’m sorry Mr. Tiger, but he was found dead in y’alls home.” 

Arlong shakes his head. “No, no you’re lying.” 

“I’m the one who found him papa.” 

More horror shows up on Arlongs face. He lets go of Koala in order to look at her face. He scans her face with his eyes. Arlong must get his answer cause he also tears up. “No.” Arlong looks up at Sabo’s dad. “Did I do this? Is this my fault?” Arlongs voice is beginning to tremble. His eyes are filling with tears and Sabo can tell he's trying to not let them fall. 

“That I can’t tell you, His death was ruled a suicide.” 

Arlong growls. “Not a chance in hell did my husband kill himself.” He’s losing more and more of his composure.  

“I’m sorry Papa.” Koala cries.  

“Oh baby.” Arlong brings his daughter in for another embrace. “No, this is not your fault.” Arlong glares at Sabo’s dad. “My husband did not do this.” 

His dad sighs. “I believe that you believe that Mr. Tiger, but until there’s proof otherwise, it’s out of my hands. Son, let’s give them a few minutes.” 

Sabo nods and follows his dad out of the room so that they can have a few moments to grieve together. 

Sabo paces as he waits for Koala. He can see them, he knows they’re just talking, but he’s trying to not be nosey as hell right now.  

His dad chuckles. “They’re fine son.” 

“I know, it’s just, well, we’re in a prison.” Sabo whispers like it’s some sort of secret. 

His dad chuckles again. “She’s fine son, she’s with her dad, besides their few minutes are almost up.” 

Sabo sighs. “I love her dad, so much. I just want to protect her.” 

“I’m aware.” 

“I hate that she’s going through this.” 

“I know son.”

Koala just sits there, leaning her head on her dads shoulder. She wanted to be close to him so they sat on the floor and he leaned against the wall while she leaned into his side. He wrapped his arm around her. She could see Sabo pacing outside.  

He kisses the top of her head. “I think our time is almost up kid.” 

She frowns. “Papa, can I ask you something?” 

“Anything kid?” 

“Is what Sabo told me true? Were you really dealing drugs?” 

Her papa sighs. “Yeah kid.” 

She tears up. “Why papa? Why would you do that?” 

He sighs again. “At first, I felt like I had no choice. They threatened you and your dad, and said if I didn’t cooperate, they’d hurt you two. They also provided our captains protection against pirates.” 

She frowns. “Oh.” 

“But then the extra money started rolling in, and I guess I got greedy. We paid off your student loans, bought a new house, the cars, I just liked getting you everything you wanted.” 

“What I wanted was you and daddy, I didn’t need all that stuff.” 

“I know that now kiddo. I’m really sorry you had to see your dad like that.” 

Koala nods. “So, that man that was in our house that night.” 

Her dad sighs again. “Not a security guard.” 

She hums. “Were you really going to use Sabo for information?” 

“Heard that did you?” 

“Yes.” 

Another sigh from her dad. “Yeah, I was planning on using him for information, the other option was making you break-up with him or risk him getting killed, and I know that would have broken your heart as well.” 

“I’m really having a hard time with this papa.” 

“I know kid, I screwed up, bad, and it may have just cost your dad his life.” 

“You think that guy did this to him?” 

“Koala, stop right now, you leave the investigation to the police.” 

“But?” 

“No, just let the police do their job kiddo, I don’t need to lose you too.” 

Koala frowns. “Fine.” 

Her papa chuckles and kisses the top of her head again. “You should get back to your boyfriend; he looks like he’s panicking.” 

Koala looks out the window and chuckles. Sabo does in fact look panicked. She chuckles. Her papa helps her stand and then she gives him another hug.  

“I love you kid, I’ll be out before you know it, but don't worry about me, you just take care of yourself okay baby?” 

Koala frowns. “I don’t want to be without you or daddy.” 

“I know kiddo.” He kisses her on the cheek. “I’m sure Dragon will let you visit whenever you want.” 

He walks her to the door, and the guard opens it for her.  

“Commissioner.” They all look at Arlong. “I know I’m not owed anything, but could I borrow your son for a few minutes?” 

Sabo looks so confused and scared.  

Dragon nods. “Sure.” 

Sabo nervously walks into the room with Arlong.  

“Don’t look so scared kid, I can’t kill you with your dad and my daughter watching.” 

Sabo pales. 

Arlong laughs. He motions to the table. “Please, have a seat.” 

Sabo sighs. Might as well hear him out. “Okay.” 

They both sit across from each other.  

“You were planning on asking her right? To marry you?” 

Sabo frowns, but nods. “Yes, but with everything going on, I never got the chance to ask you or your husband for her hand.” 

“Well, I’m giving you my permission now.” 

Wait? Seriously? That was easier than he thought. “Wait? Seriously?” 

Arlong nods. “Her dad is gone, and I’m stuck in here, you are all she has left, she needs you to give her what Fish and I can no longer give her. A family.” 

Sabo sighs. “Okay, thank you.” 

“I just need one favor.” 

“Okay?” 

Koala, much like Sabo was doing earlier watches on with nervousness as her boyfriend and papa talk. “You don’t think he has a shiv in there do you?” 

Dragon snorts. “I highly doubt he plans on murdering my son in front of me, or you.” 

Koala sighs. “Fair.” 

Dragon chuckles.  

Koala watches as they stand and then shake hands. She wonders what that’s about. Sabo exits the room. “So, what he want?” 

“That’s a secret.” He papa says. “One more hug before you go?” 

Koala smiles and hugs her papa one more time before the guard takes him away. She frowns.  

“He’ll be alright kid.” Dragon tells her.  

“How can you be so sure?” 

“Because until his trial, he’s under extra security. I’m not taking any chances the Charlotte family is coming after him too.” 

Koala turns to face them. “You mean, you don’t believe daddy killed himself either?” 

“I mean, until I’m given evidence that absolutely without a doubt proves it, I’m not closing this case.” 

Koala squeals and lunges to give him a hug too. “Thank you.” 

He chuckles. “Of course, kid.” 

At home, the two of them were watching a movie with popcorn and hot tea. Snuggled under a blanket together. Koala has her arms wrapped around him and her head on his chest.  

He leans down to kiss the top of her head. “I’m really sorry about your dad babe.” 

Koala sighs. “I know you are.” 

Here goes fucking nothing. “I know it’s kind of soon and it’s not how either of us imagined this would happen, but will you marry me?” 

Koala shoots up straight and looks at him with shock. 

Sabo frowns. Just great Sabo, really great, you blew it. 

“You mean it?” 

Wait? “Well, yeah, of course, I was gonna ask after this thing with my uncle blew over but as you’re aware, a lot of shit has happened, and I don’t want to lose you.” 

Koala smiles. “You were never going to lose me Mr. Knight. I’ve known since we met that you were the one.” 

Sabo smiles. “Really?” 

Koala smiles and nods. “Really?” 

“So, is that a yes?” 

Koala chuckles. “That depends.” 

Sabo frowns. “On?” 

“Where’s my ring?” 

Hell. “Um....”